We made an early start on the Monday morning, the camels, which had been allowed to roam about at will to graze, being soon collected from the hillsides where they were browsing off the sharp thorny leaves of the argan-trees, and other delicacies that they could find.

While we fretted at every stoppage that delayed our arrival at our destination, the day's rest we had at Imsti did us all good, as, after the ten days' close confinement at Tlata, we were not in the best travelling fettle, and the fatigue produced by seven or eight hours' riding on a baggage camel, over rough and roadless country, has to be experienced to be thoroughly realized.

A touching incident occurred very soon after we had got well under way. The road from the camp

was at first a broad, well-defined track, and the native prisoners were trudging along, when a young woman suddenly darted into the roadway and kissed poor old Misti on the top of his head. of his head. The old fellow did not look as if he and human affection had a very close acquaintance, but even the wild beasts cherish their offspring; and this was his daughter, who probably felt that she was taking her last farewell of him on earth. The salute took but a second; the girl disappeared as quickly as she had come, and the chaingang passed on in silence to their doom.

If the little incident was pathetic, the next on the road narrowly escaped being tragic. It was about mid-day, and the route all morning had been over hills and down dales of varying declivity. Sabbah and de Reya were mounted on one camel, the former in front and the latter behind; and while climbing the steep slope of a rugged and rocky path, the breast

band of the animal broke with the strain. The packsaddle slid off, and both men were thrown violently to the ground. Sabbah, who was uppermost, was only a little shaken; but de Reya fell heavily, with Sabbah and the saddle on the top of him. He lay there for some time with scarcely a move, and I feared at first that he was seriously injured. Beyerle and I, who were on the same beast, dismounted to attend to him, and in a little while he was able to get upon his feet and walk, leaning upon Beyerle's arm. In falling he had struck the bottom of his spine against a stone, and the accident caused him considerable pain for several days. An examination of several of the camel breast-bands showed that they were in similar danger of breaking under the least unusual strain, and I complained to the Kaid, and requested him to give us mules to ride, as we were not accustomed to riding camels. Had the accident to de Reya been fatal, as it might easily have been, Giluli would have been in some trepidation, having advised the capture of five Christians, and being only able to produce four, even allowing, for the moment, Sabbah's pretensions to such a title. But, like Pharaoh of old, as soon as the danger was over he hardened his heart, and insisted on our riding camels until we should reach Tisnit.

Bel F'kuk, who was near, took an opportunity of trying to console us. 'Keep up your heart,' he said to Sabbah, out of hearing of Giluli: it is a punishment from Allah; but it will pass. You will see your own country soon, Insha Allah.* To-morrow I will ask the Kaid to let you have mules fear he will make you ride the camels. man.'

*Please God.

to ride, but I He is a hard

We did not make a long day's journey that day, for by about two o'clock we came in sight of the tents that had gone on in advance, and were already pitched. The halting-place, called El Arba after the Wednesday market that is held there, was a plain surrounded by hills, somewhat similar to Tlata, but of much greater size. The surrounding mountains, too, attained a somewhat higher elevation, the summits being apparently destitute of vegetation, while the lower slopes were by no means bare of verdure.

When our tent was pitched we had a visit from several of our friends, Hadj Ali and Kaid Bel F'kuk among the number. From the latter we learnt that we were going to stay at El Arba for one day, and he promised us that on the morrow he would get us some soap and water, so that we might wash ourselves and our clothes. There was a treat to look forward to! For the last fortnight Beyerle and I had not had our clothes off once, scarcely even our boots, and the others had been almost as long. Water to drink had been difficult enough to get; but water to wash with was an undreamt-of luxury. For my part I was wondering whether an old blunt knife and some sandpaper would not be useful, preparatory to the application of so mild a remedy as soap and water, but, not wishing to hurt anyone's susceptibilities, I kept my idea to myself.

The next day was a red-letter day in the history of our captivity. About mid-day a couple of soldiers appeared at the door of our tent, and told us they had come to take us to Kaid Bel F'kuk. The invitation was obeyed with alacrity, and under their friendly escort we were conducted to a little grove on the edge of the camp, where we found a good-sized tent pitched,