d it
seemed to them like a roof of lead, in which the bright sun appeared a
rolling ball of blood-red hue; their hands, with a convulsive grasp,
tore the hair from their heads, and rending their garments in despair,
they fell senseless to the earth. Their relatives and friends conveyed
them, still insensible, to their homes, and applied restoratives to
recall animation. But, alas! to what a consciousness were they restored!
to the keener and keener sense of that grief which must follow them to
the latest hour of their existence!

The beautiful Sol, meanwhile, travelled on, in the manner already
described, silently enduring the separation from her native soil. About
three miles of the journey were completed, when there encountered them,
as though by accident, a man, who joined himself to the travellers. This
was the Jew already mentioned, who being almost a stranger to the Moors,
had engaged himself to the friends of Sol not to lose sight of her
during her journey. He entered into conversation with the soldiers, and
feigning ignorance of the circumstances of the case, soon obtained from
them an account both of their destination, and of the recent occurrences
at Tangier.

The sagacious Hebrew, having thus gained the confidence of the escort,
addressed a few words to the prisoner, giving her to understand that she
ought to embrace the law of the Prophet, and become a Mahometan, as he
himself had done. The beautiful Sol heard him with much tranquillity,
but without giving any answer; but at a moment when the escort were off
their guard, he succeeded in attracting her attention by signs, and in
making known to her that he was there for her protection. The poor
victim comprehended his meaning, and they were thus more than once
enabled to communicate by stealth.

The journey to Fez occupied six days, the nights being spent at the
different halting-places. All who saw the prisoner on the road, and were
made acquainted with the particulars of her situation, earnestly
exhorted, and even implored her to become a proselyte to their faith;
she heard them with quiet diffidence, and replied modestly to all the
arguments directed to her, that she would rather sacrifice her life than
change her religion. So much courageous perseverance was the admiration
of all who conversed with her, and her situation excited the greatest
interest and sympathy wherever she passed.

The friendly Jew, who still associated himself with the escort, and