CHAP. IV. 
MORZOUK. 
165 
secret preparations for flight (of which we, however, were informed), 
by getting several of his horses shod at night, and causing all his 
women to grind corn and to make provision for a long and sudden 
journey. We were well aware, that should he be under the 
necessity of flying, he would not go empty handed ; and it was 
pretty generally supposed tliat he would first revenge himself on 
the Mamlukes, whom he suspected of informing the Bashaw of his 
evil doings, and then take possession of ovir effects, which by his 
artful schemes had remained so long on our hands unpurchased. 
Our friends Yussuf and the old Hadje stole to our house several 
nights to give us an account of what was going forward, and, in 
consequence, we held consultations for our general safety. It was 
some satisfaction to know that all the Mamlukes, to the number of 
about ten, would have flocked to our house in the event of any 
disturbance ; and our arms and ammunition being very superior to 
those of the Sultan, we should have stood a good siege had we been 
attacked. 
Mukni's treacherous intentions were, in the meantime, too ap- 
parent to allow of our feeling quite at ease, though he frequently 
came to visit us, and still professed the same friendship for us as 
before. One of our amusements on these occasions was to fire pistols 
at a mark at the end of the room. He was very fond of this kind 
of practice, and appeared to understand our arms ; but we happily 
always succeeded in firing much better than himself or his fol- 
lowers ; a circumstance of which, at this time, we were glad to 
have an opportunity of convincing him. I had some very small 
pistols, which he much admired, and he had given me frequent 
hints of his desire to purchase them, even many months prior to 
this period, but I did not choose to understand him. Mr. Ritchie 
agreed in the propriety of keeping our arms loaded and ready, and 
we frequently went into our yard to practise at a mark. 
