150 The National Geographic Magazine 



struggled up the steep. And this was the 

 gateway, the portals, giving access to 

 Raisuli's lair. 



We had yet several hours before we 

 could reach the village of Tsarradan, 

 situated on the southern shoulder of this 

 mountain called Nazul. As the evening 

 light faded, the track, which led often 

 along the outermost edge of these lofty 

 heights, overhung such precipitous de- 

 scents that a single false step of my horse, 

 which was now trembling with fear, 

 might have cost me my life. 



It was not until near midnight that we 

 reached the hamlet, and I was deposited 

 in a miserable hut composed of two 

 rooms. The thatch had in part been 

 blown away, and when, a little later, it 

 came on to rain we were in a deplorable 

 plight, since the floor of beaten clay soon 

 became a soft ooze. 



Thus we passed the night, without beds 

 or any convenience. Of sleep I knew 

 nothing, since, between the pain from my 

 fall and the annoyance caused by innu- 

 merable creeping pests, I did not close my 

 eyes. Indeed, this expedition cost me 

 sixty hours without sleep and almost 

 without food. 



Raisuli, becoming alarmed at the report 

 of his men as to our condition, appeared 

 at the door of our hut on the second day 

 after our arrival and asked whether he 

 might enter. I was only too glad to see 

 him and, holding out my hand, I bade 

 him welcome. He seemed greatly relieved 

 at my tone and manner, expressed his 

 regret at finding me in such a condition, 

 and added that had he known that I was 

 in such feeble health he would have en- 

 deavored to capture some one else ! 



RAISULI'S PROPOSALS 



This was but indifferent consolation, 

 after all I had suffered. Still, when 

 Raisuli went on to say that we were to 

 consider ourselves not as prisoners, but 

 rather as hostages, I confess that I felt 

 relieved. 



"Your horses and the arms I have 



taken from your dependents," he con- 

 tinued, "will all be returned to you. I 

 ask nothing from you !" 



I did not, however, feel so pleased 

 when he explained that prior to our re- 

 lease he would exact from those who had 

 inflicted so many wrongs upon himself 

 and his people the following conditions : 



First. The withdrawal of the body of 

 troops now operating against him at the 

 foot of the hills. 



Second. The removal of the pasha, or 

 military governor, of Tangier from his 

 post. 



Third. The release of all the men of 

 the three Kabyles, or hill tribes, under the 

 leadership of Raisuli who were at the 

 moment confined in the prisons of Tan- 

 gier or elsewhere. 



Fourth. The payment of an indemnity 

 of seventy thousand dollars, to be re- 

 covered against the Oolad Abd-el-Saduk. 



Fifth. That Raisuli should be made 

 over-lord of the villages of Zeenats and 

 of Breeje ! 



As Raisuli concluded, I felt like say- 

 ing, "Why not ask to be proclaimed, out 

 and out, Sultan of Morocco?" In fact it 

 seemed to me that it was quite as likely 

 that the Sultan, Abd El Aziz, would agree 

 to renounce the throne in favor of Raisuli 

 as to accede to such conditions as the lat- 

 ter proposed to demand before consenting 

 to our release. I literally felt my heart 

 sink as I was thus informed of the nature 

 of these conditions. I did not then know, 

 however, of the orders which, even at 

 that very moment, had been issued here 

 in Washington; thanks to which ener- 

 getic action on the part of our govern- 

 ment my release was subsequently se- 

 cured. 



But, to return to my talk with Raisuli. 

 "The indemnity you ask from the Abd- 

 el-Saduk .family," I said, "will ruin 

 them." 



"Precisely," he replied. "They have 

 inflicted worse than death upon me. It is 

 precisely in order to be revenged upon 

 them that I have carried you off." 



