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 endured the abuse for some time without
replying; but at last I got up and said--
"What is it that excites your curiosity, O followers of the prophet
Mohammed? Are we not formed like yourselves? In what do we differ,
except that your skins are dark and ours light; that you are at home,
and we come from a far-distant land; that you speak one language, and we
speak another--although Allah has given us the power of acquiring yours?
We have no wish to insult you, and why should you take a pleasure in
insulting us?"
The people were greatly astonished at hearing me address them in their
own language. What I had said had also considerable effect, for they
instantly ceased abusing us; and several of them began to ask questions
about our country, and the business which had brought us to Africa.
Affairs were taking a more favourable turn, when one of those abominable
marabouts came in and reminded the people that we were Nazarenes, and
haters of the Prophet, and endeavoured thus to incite their fanatical
zeal against us. What would have been the result I do not know, had not
Siddy Ischem made his appearance. As we had become his property, he had
no wish to see us injured; so he quickly drove the people away, and
ordered us to accompany him to the house where he was staying.
We soon reached a one-storied building, having a gateway, through which
we passed into a courtyard, round which ran a colonnade. Part of the
courtyard was covered with an awning, under which, on a carpet, sat a
richly dressed Arab, by whose side Siddy Ischem took his seat, and then
calling us up, desired us to narrate our adventures. I did so,
explaining that three of us were officers who had been wrecked on the
coast; that I felt sure a handsome price would be paid for our ransom;
whereas, if we were kept in slavery, though we might labour ever so hard
we could be of little profit to our masters.
I do not know whether the sheikh was moved by what I said, but he told a
slave standing by to bring us some food, and desired us to sit down in
the shade and eat it. He then ordered us to go to the stables and groom
the horses, saying at the same time that we must be prepared to continue
our journey the next day.
We found that the town in which we were, was one of those built by the
Romans when their colonies spread over the northern shores of Africa.
The town had long fallen into decay, the sands of the Desert having
gradually encroached on it till the greater portion of the land fit for
cultivation had been overwhelmed. The only habitable houses were one
story in height, composed of sunburned bricks, and with flat roofs, on
which the occupants seemed to spend most of their time.
I forgot to say that we discovered our abode, which we at first took for
a prison, to be merely a stable, and that the rings and chains were
simply intended to secure refractory horses.
We performed the duties assigned us as well as we could; and Ben's
talent as a gunsmith being noised abroad, he was called on to repair all
the damaged firearms in the place--we assisting him as well as we
could--at a smith's shop to which we were conducted.
"What wonderful people are these Nazarenes!" observed some of the
bystanders. "They know everything."
"Yes," remarked others; "the Jins teach them. It is their turn now; but
they will burn throughout eternity. Curses rest on them! Allah is
great; we have paradise for our portion."
Similar remarks were made during the time we were at work; while some of
the spectators, to show their contempt, spat at us; and several came up
threatening us with their fists, to prove their zeal for their religion.
But we had been too long accustomed to this sort of treatment to take
any notice of it; and even Ben went on with his work, filing, hammering,
and screwing away,--only remarking, when he understood what was said,
"That's all you know about it."
Those who had their weapons mended went away contented; but as we could
not repair half the number brought to us, the owners of the rest were
very indignant, and we were glad to get back to our dirty stable out of
their way.
During the evening, Siddy Boo Cassem, Ben's master, made his appearance,
and informed him that he was to remain in his service, to attend to his
Bu Saef camel when he himself was not riding the animal.
"Not a few clever rogues have attempted to run off with the creature,
which is to me as the apple of my eye; but I know that you Nazarenes
would not know where to run to, so I can trust you," he observed.