gmatical in those words. Your
`_hard crust_' may mean his sublime highness the pacha; `wearing away
your teeth' may imply exactions from the government and as you affirmed
that he was happy who could _command_ the hard crust--why it is as much
as to say that you would be very glad to create a rebellion."

"Holy Prophet! May the soul of your slave never enter the first
heaven," replied the man, "if he meant any thing more than what he said;
and if your highness had been as often without a mouthful of bread as
your slave has been, you would agree with him in the justice of the
remark."

"It is of little consequence whether I agree with you or not," replied
the vizier; "I have only to tell you that his sublime highness the pacha
will not be satisfied, unless you explain away the remark, by relating
to him some story connected with the observation."

"Min Allah! God forbid that your slave should tell a story to deceive
his highness."

"The Lord have mercy upon you if you do not," replied the vizier; "but,
to be brief; if you can invent a good and interesting story, you will
remove the suspicions of the pacha, and probably be rewarded with a few
pieces of gold; if you cannot, you must prepare for the bastinado, if
not for death. You will not be required to appear in the sublime
presence before to-morrow afternoon, and will therefore have plenty of
time to invent one."

"Will your highness permit your slave to go home and consult his wife?
Women have a great talent for story telling. With her assistance he may
be able to comply with your injunctions."

"No," replied Mustapha, "you must remain in custody; but, as on this
occasion she may be of the greatest assistance to you, you may send for
her. They have indeed a talent! As the young crocodile, from instinct,
runs into the Nile as soon as it bursts its shell, so does woman, from
her nature, plunge into deceit, before even her tongue can give
utterance to the lies which her fertile imagination has already
conceived."

And with this handsome compliment to the sex, Mustapha gave his final
orders, and retired.

Whether the unfortunate man, thus accused of treason, derived any
benefit from being permitted to "retain counsel," will be shown by the
following story, which he told to the pacha when summoned on the ensuing
day:--

STORY OF THE CAMEL-DRIVER.

That your highness should wish for an explanation of the very doubtful
language which you overheard last ni