every
luxury, and a beautiful climate, could not bear up against the close
confinement of a vessel under a tropical sun. Notwithstanding all my
care and attention, in three days after she was attacked she expired in
my arms, blessing me for my attachment and my love, and regretting that
she was summoned from the world so soon after she had discovered that
there was an object in it worth living for. I threw myself upon--

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Here the renegade appeared to be much affected; he covered his face with
the wide sleeve of his under garment, and was silent.

"By God and his Prophet, these Franks are great fool about women,"
observed the pacha to Mustapha. "I must own, though, that I like this
princess better than Cerise, and I am very sorry that she is dead.
Come, Huckaback, go on. Where did you throw yourself?"

------------------------------------------------------------------------

On her body (continued the renegade, mournfully), where I remained for
many hours. At last I rose in a frenzy quite indifferent as to life or
death. I went on deck, where I found my crew much in the same
condition, from their agonising thirst; but I mocked them, and laughed
at the smooth expanse of water, which, far as the eye could reach, was
not rippled by the slightest breeze, and turned my eyes up in derision
to the sun, who poured down his vertical streams of light and heat, as
if he would consume us with his powerful rays. I thought but of one
subject, I had but one desire, which was, to rejoin the object of my
adoration. On a sudden I called to mind the flasks of golden water,
which till then I had forgotten, and rushing down into the cabin, I
determined to intoxicate myself, and quit this world of disappointment
and unrealised fruition. As if fearful that the spirit of my loved
princess should have already so far journeyed to the realms of bliss,
that I might not be able to discern her when I had shaken off the
incumbrance of an earthly body, and was at liberty to pursue, I seized a
flask, and pouring out the water with a hand trembling with anxiety,
drank off a glass. I was hastily refilling it, when the gurgling sound
struck upon the ears of my companions, who rushing down like the
fainting animals who hear the music of the fountain in the desert,
poured tumultuously into the cabin, and in spite of all my remonstrances
to leave me sufficient for the com