— 40 — Billali, and, at first, I endeavoured to propitiate him; with fair gifts and soft words, but he hearkened not to my counsels, and so I determined to do what I would. I caused my horse to be saddled privily, and started with two of my most trusted followers, by name Jack and Doleib, for the zeriba of Billali, which was at no great distance from mine. 1 told them that I purposed inducing Billali to return to me my slaves, and, if he refused, it was my intention to kill him. I said that if I succeeded I would immediately come out, but that, if I failed, one of them was toreturn with all speed to my zeriba, and inform my followers of what had befallen. I went forthwith tothe room of Billali, and, pulling back the curtain,, found him sitting with a rosary in his fingers, telling his beads. I went towards him, and said "Inform me now, Haj Mohammed, with respect to those slaves did they belong to your father ? If not, do you choose rather to give up these slaves to me or your soul to God ?" While I was thus speaking I was standing hard by the side of Billali, who shoutfor his Kavass, Abd el Sid. The man straightway entered his presence, but I placed my revolver against the head of Billali, and said, "Would you rather that your brains left you or your Kavassleft the room ?" Whereupon the Kavass departed from between the hands of Billali, who told him toreturn to me all my slaves. The Kavass replied, "I