iculty that they reached the
water to satisfy their burning thirst. In the evening they reached some
tents belonging to Beirouc, where they passed the night. He told them
that the next day they would arrive at his town, where they were to
spend some time. This was agreeable news, as they hoped to obtain some
means of communicating with the coast. Towards evening Beirouc pointed
out to them his habitation. At first they looked everywhere without
perceiving any building, but at length discovered towards the east, at
the foot of a mountain, a circle of reddish walls, in the middle of
which rose a tower of considerable height. It had the appearance of
being what it really was, a shelter for brigands. On their right was a
forest of palm-trees, and some cultivated gardens, while a number of
Moors were lying carelessly about outside the walls. The news of their
arrival was soon circulated among all classes, and from every direction
came men, women, and children, running to see the Christians, whom they
looked upon as some singular wild beasts. At length Beirouc told one of
his attendants to conduct the three prisoners to their habitation. The
whole town was composed of houses built with sun-dried bricks of a
yellowish tint. They were conducted into a square, out of which opened
several chambers, or houses with small doors; one of these they were
told to enter. It had a miserable and dirty appearance; at first,
coming out of the glare of day, they could see nothing, but as their
eyes got accustomed to the gloom they were much dismayed at perceiving
the number of chains hung to the walls. Jumbo, however, relieved their
anxiety by saying that they were merely to fasten up horses, the place
having been used as a stable. Though the chief hitherto treated them
with more humanity, still, as might have been expected, they felt that
they were slaves, and they asked Jumbo to make inquiries.

"Yes, we all slavee," he said. "Beirouc, he make us work; he sell us."

Jumbo brought them further intelligence that they were not to remain at
their present station long. They had little rest, being exposed from
morning to night to the gaze of the Moors, who came to look at them from
feelings of curiosity alone, without the slightest tinge of compassion.
Many amused themselves by mocking at them, inquiring whether they wished
to become gardeners, carpenters, bricklayers, or masons. At all hours
of the day their unwelcome visitors a