94 SHIPWRECK OF THE 
Accustomed themselves to climb those places with rapidity, 
they urged them on with blows to walk faster than they were 
able. By these means they made a long day's journey ; at 
night each of them received a piece of bread, and enjoyed the 
comfort of sleeping upon boards for the first time. 
The shiek and chiefs of the Moors held a consultation re- 
specting their captives; but being unable to agree about the 
division of them, they resolved to send them back to the place 
whence they came. Before they departed, the steward hav- 
ing taken a little straw from some of the beasts near the spot 
for his young mistress to lie upon, the master of the hut was 
so enraged that he snatched up an axe, obliged him to lay his 
head down upon a block, and was about to strike the fatal 
blow, but was prevented by a Moor Avho accidentally entered. 
Three or four times a day, according to their barbarous hu- 
mor, they came and seized them by the throat, after shutting 
the door of the hut, for fear of being interrupted, and with 
their sabres in their hands threatened them with instant de- 
struction; but an invisible power resisted their arms and re- 
pressed their fury. 
As they were still detained, notwithstanding the resolution 
that had been taken to send them back to their first master, 
the latter accompanied by a Turk from Bugia, came to fetch 
them ; but sixteen armed Moors, of the mountains compelled 
him to resign them. The barbarian, disappointed of his prey, 
seized the young lady and drew his sabre to cut off her head; 
but the Turk, by his remonstrances, prevailed upon him to de- 
sist from his sanguinary purpose. At length they were per- 
mitted to depart. Those who escorted them on their return, 
fired with religious zeal, or impelled by their blood-thirsty dis- 
position, were ready every moment to sacrifice their ill-fated 
victims. On one occasion, among many others, they took the 
abbe and the steward behind a thick bush to sacrifice them to 
their prophet ; but they once more escaped from this immi- 
nent danger. 
They arrived in the evening at the village, the scene of their 
dreary servitude. Here they frequently received only the 
raw leaves of turnips to eat, without bread. However, the 
friendship which the children, by degrees, conceived for the 
young lady, obtained her the indulgence of a little milk with 
her bread. 
At length a fourth letter, written by Mademoiselle de Bourk 
to the consul, and the only one which came to hand, arrived 
at Algiers on the 24th of November, and was sent by the Pey 
