sun--terraces, fountains, cloistered arcades, cool and refreshing--gardens
wherein grew the vine, the fig, the pomegranate, the melon, the orange,
the lemon, and all the fruits of the East--wherein toiled wretched slaves
under the watchful eyes of cruel overseers and savage dogs.

When they arrived they were all put to sleep in cells opening upon
a courtyard with a tank in the centre. They were supplied with mats
for beds, and chained, each one by the ankle, to a staple in the
wall. And without the dogs prowled and growled all night.

Poor Hubert!

In the morning the "Old Man" appeared, and the slaves were all
assembled to hear his words:

"Come, ye Christians, and hearken unto me, for ye shall hear my
words--sweet to the wise, but as goads to the foolish. Ye are my
property, bought with my money, and is it not lawful for me to do
what I will with mine own? But there is one God, and Mohammed is
His prophet; and to please them is more to me than diamonds of
Golconda or rubies of Shiraz.

"Therefore, I make proclamation, that every slave who will embrace
the true faith of Islam shall be free, only tarrying here until we
be assured of his knowledge of the Koran and steadfastness of
purpose, when he shall go forth to the world, his own master, the
slave of none but God and His prophet.

"But if there be senseless Jews, or unbelieving Nazarenes, who will
not accept the blessing offered them, for six months shall they
groan beneath the taskmaster, toiling in the sun; and then, if yet
obstinate, they shall die, for the edification and warning of
others, and the manner of their death shall be in fit proportion to
their deserts.

"Hasty judgment beseemeth not a man. Ere the morrow's sun arise,
let your decision be made."

The day was given to work in the burning sun, doubtless as a
foretaste of what awaited the obstinate Christian. During the day
troops of lithe, active boys of all ages from ten to twenty, had
pranced about the garden--bright in face, lively and versatile in
disposition; but with a certain cruel look about their black eyes
and swarthy features which was the result of their system of
education.

And they had not been sparing of their remarks about the slaves:

"Fresh food for the stake--fresh work for the torturers."

"Pooh! They will give way and become good Mussulmen. Bah! Bah! Most
of them do, and deprive us of the fun."

That night Hubert and the young Alphonse of Poitou lay chained side
by