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kill one with thirst." Here he indulged himself with sundry gulps from the gourd, and the other followed his example. May I be made incurably purblind by this cursed day's sojourn," said the fakier, wiping his lips and mustachios, "if I see not something progressing in the distance just look steadily betwixt my poney Rustum's fore feet-and plague upon the skittish brute, he has moved!-look now a little to the right of his off leg —as I live, he has shuffled into the way again, a pest upon him!-However, you cannot now fail clearly to see some travellers approaching. "Tis just there."

Ramjohnny, spite of Rustum's interference, who, in conjunction with another four-footed friend, fastened to the fore-mentioned palm-tree, was strenuously battling against the cannibal musquitoes, now saw distinctly two horsemen advancing towards them, and half an hour's riding across the arid plain brought them to the well.

"Ram, Ram,” cried the fakier, (a salutation common amongst travellers and pilgrims,) moulding at the same time his parti-coloured face into a gravity that would have honoured Confucius, or Zeroaster, or Gontam.

"Ram, Ram," responded cheerfully both the others, one of whom was Alraschid.

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'Baba," said the mendicant, to whom we shall henceforth append his proper name of Buccas," the sun is this day sufficiently severe to dry up the very blood in our veins, but God's beneficence be lauded, you will find here delightful water. Drink, my sons, and refresh your exhausted limbs." Having arrogated to himself this direction and charitable feeling so accordant with paternity, he stroked complacently his whiskers, and seemed wrapt in a devotional reverie. The travellers having made a civil return, now dismounted, and having watered their nags, fastened them to a root of the tree near the others. After this they sat down near the fakier in a very friendly manner.

From the completeness of your arms, young men," said Ramjohnny in his politest manner, "it would seem

VOL. I.

4

you esteem these tracts as dangerous as barren. I hope there is no cause of apprehension. Have you heard of any robberies or murders, any dechoity work, eh?”

"No," replied Alraschid, "but there is nothing like being prudently prepared for whatever may occur.'

"Right," cried Buccas, "but were you to carry as few valuables about you as I do, and esteem life as lightly, all such precautions would be despised."

Here, however, the conversation was cut short by a storm, which, unperceived by any of the party, had gradually been gathering. The rebellious Rustum was ever the origin of all evil; for besides the uncommon craftiness of his disposition, he was quite hide bound with viciousness. He was a sturdy Roman-nosed cob, of that reddish mottled colour, still extant in ancient dimities, saving his mane, and muzzle, and tail, all of which were naturally milk white-we say naturally, because Buccas had been as profuse in red lead and yellow ochre towards his quadruped as to himself, and quite as judicious in their application; the bushy and lower part of his tail was of a bright vermilion, and his sides were covered with patches of yellow, which, with other improvements, rendered him very unlike himself. This subtle beast having broken his tether, advanced with complete benignity of demeanour towards one of the newly arrived steeds, which was unsuspiciously discussing his gram ;* but when within point blank hoof distance, he executed a rapid demi-volute, and bestowed at the same time such a salute on his astonished visitor's ribs, as took away all breath for retaliation, besides making him drop a mouthful of his dinner. Bitter, however, was his enemy's revenge; he, also, performed skilfully a demi-volute, and seizing Rustum's ears with his big yellow teeth, had unquestionably added yet another item to his beauty, by making him a crop, but for the other hitherto neutral, but now all important, power. This was Ulluddien's (the

* Sort of vetch.

companion of Alraschid,) great heavy charger, who, from mere martial motives joined in the disturbance with a joyous alacrity not to be conceived. After four ineffective and furious kicks, he succeeded by the fifth, in rendering Rustum dizzy, and now had his aggrieved and mortal enemy literally chewed off his ears, but for their respective masters' hasty interference. By dint of considerable cursing and cudgelling, however, the combatants were separated, and order restored.

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By the estimation of my beard!" exclaimed the fakier, stroking it affectionately and casting down his eyes with suppressed pleasure on its luxuriant locks, "seldom have I seen so serious a bobbery !—but"continued he, partly to himself, as well as if apostrophising Rustum, "I hope you will have enough to do presently, without thus jading yourself, scuffling rascal !" -Hardly five minutes elapsed after this hubbub, before Buccas, having snatched up his big stick, which he had concealed in the sand till a fit opportunity offered, jumped up, and bestowed such a blow on our hero's comrade, as laid him senseless. Meanwhile, Ramjohnny, who only waited for this signal, rushed upon Alraschid, and secured him. So unlooked for was this assault, that neither of the vanquished had time to draw their weapons, and before they could gather together their senses, the fakier had bound his opponent's arms behind his back with his own turban, and was ready to assist his coadjutor, should Alraschid have proved obstreperous, both being fairly captured. Buccas, after squirting from his cheek a quantity of saliva, which from the mastication of betel, resembled red ink, said: "Yes, yes, there ye sit as dumb-foundered as two netted widgeons, and may suicide be my death, if we deserve not sweetmeats for managing the thing so dexterously.-Ye young traffickers in treason," continued he, casting his dark glaring eye alternately on either prisoner, "deliver up without more trouble the packet intended for Selim of Ougien.” "Force or denial," answered Alraschid proudly,

"are

alike useless or impossible. It is your lawless power to rob us of what we are entrusted with, but it shall never be a voluntary action on my part to give it up. I would have you however reflect on the consequences of attacking a messenger of the Imperial Prince Mahommed."

"Pooh, pooh!" replied the fakier; "leave consequences to philosophers and the fore-sighted-we are neither one or other-we live for the day, and act by impulse, and for those who can direct it. So by your leave, fair-faced young man, I will commence my scrutiny. Accordingly, having taken off and untwisted Alraschid's turban, the desired missive tumbled on the ground. "All right," exclaimed Buccas, examining narrowly the seals-" and now, my young friends, you must make up your minds to be fastened to this tree for exactly two hours, and like elephants, by the leg." If remonstrance was in vain, so even a certain civility and readiness of deportment was prudential, for the fakier could with a couple of strokes of his huge heavy stick have saved himself all such precautionary trouble. They, therefore, without moan or imprecation, allowed themselves to be dragged to the palm tree, and Ramjohnny, having produced a strong cord in his most officiously polite manner, Buccas commenced instantly the operation— having bound their legs securely to the tree, and in such a manner as rendered it impossible to rise from a sitting posture. He then took the turban which he had previously used, and fastened three of their arms firmly together, leaving only Alraschid's right one at liberty. The reason of this will be explained by his next proceeding. He then bored a hole into the bark as high as he could reach, into which he stuck a small peg, and having tied to either end of a piece of cord a knife and the now empty calabash, he suspended it over the peg. The calabash being filled with water, a stone was necessary to be attached to the other end, in order to make the knife counterbalance the water.-Being thus fairly suspended

beyond the capture's reach, he then opened with his knife a deep crack in the vessel, which had been secured with putty or plaster, and the water oozed out in large regular drops." A couple of hours," said he, saddling his beast, will bring the knife within reach, when you can liberate your legs-by that time your despatches will be in better hands. Heaven bless you, my sons,—another time, when you have anything subtle to perform, keep both your eyes well open-the fox, you see, may be caught by his own tail-and though I swear by moon and planet, I regret the disagreeableness of your position, ceremony, and comfort, must yield to security." So saying, he mounted his mauled hack, and, followed by Ramjohnny, set off across the plain at a pace which Rustum neither expected nor admired.

Soon as these foot-pads were out of hearing, the prisoners gave loud vent to their feelings, which however differed considerably. Ulluddeen, who was a hurkaru or messenger of the Aggur Rajah, and in no way interested in the business for which he had most severely suffered, indulged for nearly a quarter of an hour in the most unlimited abuse against the robbers-after which he diverged to a dreadful episode of self-condemnation for having been so unsuspicious of their character.

Alraschid, on the other hand appeared to give little thought to his hardships, but bitterly bemoaned the loss of a packet which his master had told him was of value,

The first confidential employment!" thought he"and to be despoiled!" shame, and indignation, and grief at this, plunged him into a medley of misery, from which he was only relieved by surmising who the robbers could be, they being quite aware of what he carried, and seeking no other plunder. After nearly three hours of these nauseating reflections, down came the knife and stone, and Alraschid soon severed the bonds which by this time severely galled them. The page was now not a little perplexed what to do, and he entered into a con