MONTHLY PACKET OF EVENING READINGS FOR Members of the English Church. EDITED BY CHARLOTTE M. YONGE, AUTHOR OF THE HEIR OF REDCLYFFE.' THIRD SERIES. VOLUME XII. PARTS LXVII, TO LXXII. JULY--DECEMBER, 1886. LONDON: WALTER SMITH (LATE MOZLEY), 34, KING STREET, COVENT GARDEN. 1886. I only heard the reckless waters roar, Those waves that would not bear me from the shore; Too bright, too blue for my captivity, And felt that all which Freedom's bosom cheers, -BYRON (The Corsair). Ar the rate at which the traffic in Yusuf's tent proceeded, Arthur Hope was likely to have some little time for deliberation on the question presented to him whether to be a free Moslem Sheyk or a Christian slave. Not only had almost every household in El Arnieh to chaffer with the merchant for his wares and to dispose of home-made commodities, but from other adowaras and from hill-farms Moors and Cabyles came in with their produce of wax, wool or silk to barter-if not with Yusuf, with the inhabitants of El Arnieh, who could weave and embroider, forge cutlery, and make glass from the raw material these supplied. Other Cabyles, divers from the coast, came up with coral and sponges, the latter of which was the article in which Yusuf preferred to deal, though nothing came amiss to him that he could carry, or that could carry itself-such as a young foal; even the little black boy had been taken on speculation-and so indeed had the big Abyssinian, who though dumb, was the most useful, ready and alert of his five slaves. Every bargain seemed to occupy at least an hour, and perhaps Yusuf lingered the longer in order to give Arthur more time for consideration; or it might be that his native tongue, once heard, exercised an irresistible fascination over him. He never failed to have what he called a crack' with his young countryman at the hour of the siesta, or at night, perhaps persuading the Sheyk that it was controversial, though it was more apt to be on circumstances of the day's trade or the news of the BorderVOL. 12. PART 67. 1 6 |