FEATS OF ENDURANCE 15 



perty of my father. He was informed that he must 

 hold himself in readiness to set ont with her on the 

 morrow for Algiers. After the evening prayer my 

 father, who had taken care not to make any remark, 

 came to me and said, 'Ben-Zyan, art thou thyself 

 to-day ? Wilt thou leave thy father in a strait, or 

 wilt thou make his face red ? ' 



' " ' I am nothing but your will, my lord,' I replied. 

 ' Speak, and if I obey not your commands, it will be 

 because I am vanquished by death.' 



'"'Listen. These children of sin seek to take 

 my mare in the hope of settling their affairs with the 

 Sultan, — my gray mare, I say, which has always 

 brought good fortune to my tent, to my children, and 

 the camels ; my gray mare, that was foaled on the 

 day that thy youngest brother was born ! Speak [ 

 Wilt thou let them do this dishonour to my hoary 

 bsard ? The joy and happiness of the family are in 

 thy hands. Mordjana (such was the name of the 

 mare) has eaten her barley. If thou art of a truth 

 my son, go and sup, take thy weapons, and then at 

 earliest nightfall flee far away into the desert with 

 the treasure dear to us all.' 



' " Without answering a word I kissed my father's 

 liand, took my evening repast, and quitted Beroua- 

 guia, happy in being able to prove my filial affection, 

 and laughing in my sleeve at the disappointment 

 that awaited our sheikhs on their awaking. I j)ushed 

 forward for a long time, fearing to be pursued, but 



