MY FRIEND MOHAMMED-BEN-OUMBARK. 313 



children for fifteen years were lulled to quiet by threats of 

 the coming of the great night robber, my friend, the hero of 

 this chapter. 



Mohammed belonged to a family formerly of some wealth, 

 but that had been despoiled of its goods before the French 

 occupation. After the death of his father, he found himself 

 the fortunate possessor of a young and lovely wife, a tent 

 rather the worse for wear, a dagger with a sharp point, and 

 nothing more. 



" With this weapon," said he to his wife, " I will carve 

 from the rough earth house and lands, and from nature 

 horned cattle and horses, until our wealth will exceed that of 

 those who spoiled my father's house." Without delay he 

 began the fulfillment of his promise. 



The French troops detailed to make the first expedition 

 into Constantine, were assembled at this time at the camp of 

 Mejez Amar. All the neighboring tribes being still unsub- 

 jected to French rule, the officers had great difficulty in pro- 

 curing horses and mules, and Mohammed undertook this 

 duty. With an effrontery that never left him, he presented 

 himself at the outposts of our camp, was arrested and carried 

 before the officer in authority. To him he declared without 

 any hesitation, that he belonged to a free tribe, but that he 

 had come to offer his services to the French, and was ready 

 to furnish them anything they might want, either saddle 

 horses or beasts of burden. His frankness pleased, and his 

 offer was accepted. 



The next morning, by a delivery of some handsome horses, 

 he performed his promise and showed what he could do. 

 Thenceforth they gave him orders to fulfill, just as though he 

 was a regular trader, and had stables without number at his 

 command. They described to him the color and age of the 

 horse that was wanted, and at the appointed moment the 

 animal stood panting at the camp, with the stoical rider at his 



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