ter of the Moors in
their present condition."

"Certainly from his proud bearing in our presence," replied Caneri, with
offended dignity, "one might, indeed, be led to suppose him a person of
consequence, did not those unseemly habiliments contradict such a
conclusion."

The stranger answered not, but contented himself with casting a look of
mingled pity and scorn on the mighty potentate of the cavern. The chief,
however, was prevented from inquiring more minutely into the pretensions
of one who appeared little disposed to pay him unqualified deference, by
the shrill and croaking voice of Marien Rufa, who at that moment was
actively engaged in heaping a redundance of abuse on the devoted head of
her husband Aboukar. The squabble, as far as it could be ascertained
amidst the confused din, originated in some provisions which the
provident Aboukar, in his capacity of ex-master of the household,
judiciously concluded ought to come by right under his control;
accordingly, _secundum artem_, he had entered on his official duties by
secreting a portion of the said provisions for his own private use,
before they were either served up to Caneri, or finally distributed
amongst his hungry and rapacious band. Marien Rufa had observed the sly
larceny, but what in the name of conjugal regard could have induced the
crone to so unkind and unmatrimonial an action as the exposure of her
own husband, is not easily to be determined. An upright and indulgent
person might be tempted to believe it was a proper regard and tenderness
for the purity of his character; but others, not quite so considerate,
would suspect, and perhaps with a nearer semblance of truth, that the
unamiable spouse was instigated by a less honorable motive. It was a
fact, not to be contradicted, that Marien Rufa and her once beloved
Aboukar, at present detested as cordially as they had formerly loved
each other; which curious phenomenon in the condition of matrimony is
not of such rare occurrence as to need any particular investigation into
its nature or origin.

As soon as Caneri observed the disturbance, conjecturing from the
character of the belligerents that the commotion was likely to increase
apace, he rose suddenly from his seat, an action which clearly indicated
the extent of his indignation, and with vehemence exclaimed--

"Silence! What means this disturbance? Slaves, is this your respect for
your chief? Explain; what is the cause of this unwarrantable breac