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garden for herbs if need be； for my master says there are nowhere
better herbs for salad then here。〃
〃Come back for any thou hast need of；〃 replied Hadji Morato； 〃for my
daughter does not speak thus because she is displeased with thee or
any Christian： she only meant that the Turks should go； not thou； or
that it was time for thee to look for thy herbs。〃
With this I at once took my leave of both； and she； looking as
though her heart were breaking； retired with her father。 While
pretending to look for herbs I made the round of the garden at my
ease； and studied carefully all the approaches and outlets； and the
fastenings of the house and everything that could be taken advantage
of to make our task easy。 Having done so I went and gave an account of
all that had taken place to the renegade and my comrades； and looked
forward with impatience to the hour when； all fear at an end； I should
find myself in possession of the prize which fortune held out to me in
the fair and lovely Zoraida。 The time passed at length； and the
appointed day we so longed for arrived； and； all following out the
arrangement and plan which； after careful consideration and many a
long discussion； we had decided upon； we succeeded as fully as we
could have wished； for on the Friday following the day upon which I
spoke to Zoraida in the garden； the renegade anchored his vessel at
nightfall almost opposite the spot where she was。 The Christians who
were to row were ready and in hiding in different places round
about； all waiting for me； anxious and elated； and eager to attack the
vessel they had before their eyes； for they did not know the
renegade's plan； but expected that they were to gain their liberty
by force of arms and by killing the Moors who were on board the
vessel。 As soon； then； as I and my comrades made our appearance； all
those that were in hiding seeing us came and joined us。 It was now the
time when the city gates are shut； and there was no one to be seen
in all the space outside。 When we were collected together we debated
whether it would be better first to go for Zoraida； or to make
prisoners of the Moorish rowers who rowed in the vessel； but while
we were still uncertain our renegade came up asking us what kept us；
as it was now the time； and all the Moors were off their guard and
most of them asleep。 We told him why we hesitated； but he said it
was of more importance first to secure the vessel； which could be done
with the greatest ease and without any danger； and then we could go
for Zoraida。 We all approved of what he said； and so without further
delay； guided by him we made for the vessel； and he leaping on board
first； drew his cutlass and said in Morisco； 〃Let no one stir from
this if he does not want it to cost him his life。〃 By this almost
all the Christians were on board； and the Moors； who were
fainthearted； hearing their captain speak in this way； were cowed； and
without any one of them taking to his arms （and indeed they had few or
hardly any） they submitted without saying a word to be bound by the
Christians； who quickly secured them； threatening them that if they
raised any kind of outcry they would be all put to the sword。 This
having been accomplished； and half of our party being left to keep
guard over them； the rest of us； again taking the renegade as our
guide； hastened towards Hadji Morato's garden； and as good luck
would have it； on trying the gate it opened as easily as if it had not
been locked； and so； quite quietly and in silence； we reached the
house without being perceived by anybody。 The lovely Zoraida was
watching for us at a window； and as soon as she perceived that there
were people there； she asked in a low voice if we were 〃Nizarani；〃
as much as to say or ask if we were Christians。 I answered that we
were； and begged her to come down。 As soon as she recognised me she
did not delay an instant； but without answering a word came down
immediately； opened the door and presented herself before us all； so
beautiful and so richly attired that I cannot attempt to describe her。
The moment I saw her I took her hand and kissed it； and the renegade
and my two comrades did the same； and the rest； who knew nothing of
the circumstances； did as they saw us do； for it only seemed as if
we were returning thanks to her； and recognising her as the giver of
our liberty。 The renegade asked her in the Morisco language if her
father was in the house。 She replied that he was and that he was
asleep。
〃Then it will be necessary to waken him and take him with us；〃
said the renegade； 〃and everything of value in this fair mansion。〃
〃Nay；〃 said she； 〃my father must not on any account be touched；
and there is nothing in the house except what I shall take； and that
will be quite enough to enrich and satisfy all of you； wait a little
and you shall see；〃 and so saying she went in； telling us she would
return immediately and bidding us keep quiet making any noise。
I asked the renegade what had passed between them； and when he
told me； I declared that nothing should be done except in accordance
with the wishes of Zoraida； who now came back with a little trunk so
full of gold crowns that she could scarcely carry it。 Unfortunately
her father awoke while this was going on； and hearing a noise in the
garden； came to the window； and at once perceiving that all those
who were there were Christians； raising a prodigiously loud outcry； he
began to call out in Arabic； 〃Christians； Christians！ thieves；
thieves！〃 by which cries we were all thrown into the greatest fear and
embarrassment； but the renegade seeing the danger we were in and how
important it was for him to effect his purpose before we were heard；
mounted with the utmost quickness to where Hadji Morato was； and
with him went some of our party； I； however； did not dare to leave
Zoraida； who had fallen almost fainting in my arms。 To be brief； those
who had gone upstairs acted so promptly that in an instant they came
down； carrying Hadji Morato with his hands bound and a napkin tied
over his mouth； which prevented him from uttering a word； warning
him at the same time that to attempt to speak would cost him his life。
When his daughter caught sight of him she covered her eyes so as not
to see him； and her father was horror…stricken； not knowing how
willingly she had placed herself in our hands。 But it was now most
essential for us to be on the move； and carefully and quickly we
regained the vessel； where those who had remained on board were
waiting for us in apprehension of some mishap having befallen us。 It
was barely two hours after night set in when we were all on board
the vessel； where the cords were removed from the hands of Zoraida's
father； and the napkin from his mouth； but the renegade once more told
him not to utter a word； or they would take his life。 He； when he
saw his daughter there； began to sigh piteously； and still more when
he perceived that I held her closely embraced and that she lay quiet
without resisting or complaining； or showing any reluctance；
nevertheless he remained silent lest they should carry into effect the
repeated threats the renegade had addressed to him。
Finding herself now on board； and that we were about to give way
with the oars； Zoraida； seeing her father there； and the other Moors
bound； bade the renegade ask me to do her the favour of releasing
the Moors and setting her father at liberty； for she would rather
drown herself in the sea than suffer a father that had loved her so
dearly to be carried away captive before her eyes and on her
account。 The renegade repeated this to me； and I replied that I was
very willing to do so； but he replied that it was not advisable；
because if they were left there they would at once raise the country
and stir up the city； and lead to the despatch of swift cruisers in
pursuit； and our being taken； by sea or land； without any
possibility of escape； and that all that could be done was to set them
free on the first Christian ground we reached。 On this point we all
agreed； and Zoraida； to whom it was explained； together with the
reasons that prevented us from doing at once what she desired； was
satisfied likewise； and then in glad silence and with cheerful
alacrity each of our stout rowers took his oar； and commending
ourselves to God with all our hearts； we began to shape our course for
the island of Majorca； the nearest Christian land。 Owing； however；
to the Tramontana rising a little； and the sea growing somewhat rough；
it was impossible for us to keep a straight course for Majorca； and we
were compelled to coast in the direction of Oran； not without great
uneasiness on our part lest we should be observed from the town of
Shershel； which lies on that coast； not more than sixty miles from
Algiers。 Moreover we were afraid of meeting on that course one of
the galliots that usually come with goods from Tetuan； although each
of us for himself and all of us together felt confident that； if we
were to meet a merchant galliot； so that it were not a cruiser； not
only should we not be lost； but that we should take a vessel in
which we could more safely accomplish our voyage。 As we pursued our
course Zora