d be increased. I expressed my feelings to
Boxall; but he rejoined,--"Such walls as these can be easily scaled; and
if we once get on the outside, we are not so likely to be observed and
followed as from an open camp. Cheer up, Charlie; `it's a long lane
that has no turning.'"

Even he, however, felt somewhat dispirited when we were conducted to a
long, low building, into which we were thrust, and the door closed upon
us. All we could discover in the gloom was that the walls were of bare
stone, with rings and chains secured to them, and that the floor was
excessively dirty. We were so tired from our journey that we longed to
lie down; but we were unable to do so until we could scrape from the
floor the offal which thickly covered it.

"I hope they are not going to send us supperless to bed," exclaimed Ben.
"Can't you sing out that we are in want of food, Mr Blore, and that we
shall be much obliged to them if they will send us something to drink at
the same time?"

There was a single, strongly-barred window in the room, looking into the
street. I went to it, and cried at the top of my voice, "Oh, pity! oh,
pity! oh, pity! Will any one have compassion on us, and bring us some
food to supply our wants?"

My appeal was not in vain, for before long the door opened and a veiled
female appeared, bringing a basket with the universal couscoussu, some
dates, and a bottle of water. Without uttering a word she placed the
basket on the ground, and retired as silently as she had entered; not
even allowing us time to thank her for her kindness. All we could do
was to bless her after she had gone, and wonder who she could be; and
then we set to with hearty appetites to devour the viands she had
brought us. Finding some pieces of wood, we next scraped a spot in the
corner of our prison clear of dirt; and then throwing ourselves on the
ground, forgot our cares in sleep.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

BEN DISPLAYS HIS ABILITY AS A GUNSMITH--I ACT THE PART OF EAVESDROPPER--
HOW SIDDY BOO CASSEM OBTAINED BU SAEF--SELIM GOES ON A DANGEROUS
EXPEDITION--ITS RESULT--BOXALL DOCTORS SIDDY BOO CASSEM--WE TAKE FRENCH
LEAVE OF OUR MASTERS.

Scarcely had daylight appeared when the door opened, and a number of
inquisitive faces--belonging to people of all descriptions who had come
to see us--appeared at the entrance. Some gazed in silence, but many
amused themselves by abusing us, and bestowing on us all sorts of
uncomplimentary names. We