nt their
friendship being discovered. He did it with a bad grace, it is true,
but felt that, for his friend's sake if not his own, he was bound to
comply. So he put on an expression which his cheery face had not known
since that period of infancy when his frequent demands for sugar were
not gratified. Wheels worked within wheels, however, for he felt so
disgusted with the part he had to play that he got into the sulks
naturally!

"Fuss-rate!" whispered Peter, "you's a'most as good as myself."

By this time they had reached one of the eastern gates of the city. It
was named Bab-Azoun. As they passed through it the negro told his
brother-slave that the large iron hooks which ornamented the wall there
were used for the purpose of having criminals cast on them; the wretched
victims being left to hang there, by whatever parts of their bodies
chanced to catch on the hooks, till they died.

Having reached the open country outside the walls, they walked along a
beautiful road, from which were obtained here and there splendid views
of the surrounding country. On one side lay the blue Mediterranean,
with its picturesque boats and shipping, and the white city descending
to the very edge of the sea; on the other side rose the wooded slopes of
a suburb named Mustapha, with numerous white Moorish houses in the midst
of luxuriant gardens, where palms, bananas, cypresses, aloes,
lemon-trees, and orange groves perfumed the balmy air, and afforded
grateful shade from the glare of the African sun.

Into one of those gardens the Moor at last turned and led the way to a
house, which, if not in itself beautiful according to European notions
of architecture, was at least rendered cheerful with whitewash, and
stood in the midst of a beauty and luxuriance of vegetation that could
not be surpassed.

Opening a door in this building, the Turk entered. His slaves followed,
and Foster, to his surprise, found what may be styled a miniature garden
in the courtyard within.

CHAPTER FOUR.

OUR MIDDY IS PUT TO WORK--ALSO PUT ON HIS "WORD-OF-HONOUR," AND RECEIVES
A GREAT SHOCK OF SURPRISE.

George Foster soon found that his master and owner, Ben-Ahmed, was a
stern and exacting, but by no means an ill-natured or cruel, man. He
appeared to be considerably over sixty years of age, but showed no signs
of abated vigour. In character he was amiable and just, according to
his light, but dignified and reticent.

His first act, after seati