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not go out to work with the rest of the crew； unless when their ransom
is delayed； for then； to make them write for it more pressingly；
they compel them to work and go for wood； which is no light labour。
I； however； was one of those on ransom； for when it was discovered
that I was a captain； although I declared my scanty means and want
of fortune； nothing could dissuade them from including me among the
gentlemen and those waiting to be ransomed。 They put a chain on me；
more as a mark of this than to keep me safe； and so I passed my life
in that bano with several other gentlemen and persons of quality
marked out as held to ransom； but though at times； or rather almost
always； we suffered from hunger and scanty clothing； nothing
distressed us so much as hearing and seeing at every turn the
unexampled and unheard…of cruelties my master inflicted upon the
Christians。 Every day he hanged a man； impaled one； cut off the ears
of another； and all with so little provocation； or so entirely without
any； that the Turks acknowledged he did it merely for the sake of
doing it； and because he was by nature murderously disposed towards
the whole human race。 The only one that fared at all well with him was
a Spanish soldier； something de Saavedra by name； to whom he never
gave a blow himself； or ordered a blow to be given； or addressed a
hard word； although he had done things that will dwell in the memory
of the people there for many a year； and all to recover his liberty；
and for the least of the many things he did we all dreaded that he
would be impaled； and he himself was in fear of it more than once； and
only that time does not allow； I could tell you now something of
what that soldier did； that would interest and astonish you much
more than the narration of my own tale。
To go on with my story； the courtyard of our prison was overlooked
by the windows of the house belonging to a wealthy Moor of high
position； and these； as is usual in Moorish houses； were rather
loopholes than windows； and besides were covered with thick and
close lattice…work。 It so happened； then； that as I was one day on the
terrace of our prison with three other comrades； trying； to pass
away the time； how far we could leap with our chains； we being
alone； for all the other Christians had gone out to work； I chanced to
raise my eyes； and from one of these little closed windows I saw a
reed appear with a cloth attached to the end of it； and it kept waving
to and fro； and moving as if making signs to us to come and take it。
We watched it； and one of those who were with me went and stood
under the reed to see whether they would let it drop； or what they
would do； but as he did so the reed was raised and moved from side
to side； as if they meant to say 〃no〃 by a shake of the head。 The
Christian came back； and it was again lowered； making the same
movements as before。 Another of my comrades went； and with him the
same happened as with the first； and then the third went forward；
but with the same result as the first and second。 Seeing this I did
not like not to try my luck； and as soon as I came under the reed it
was dropped and fell inside the bano at my feet。 I hastened to untie
the cloth； in which I perceived a knot； and in this were ten cianis；
which are coins of base gold； current among the Moors； and each
worth ten reals of our money。
It is needless to say I rejoiced over this godsend； and my joy was
not less than my wonder as I strove to imagine how this good fortune
could have come to us； but to me specially； for the evident
unwillingness to drop the reed for any but me showed that it was for
me the favour was intended。 I took my welcome money； broke the reed；
and returned to the terrace； and looking up at the window； I saw a
very white hand put out that opened and shut very quickly。 From this
we gathered or fancied that it must be some woman living in that house
that had done us this kindness； and to show that we were grateful
for it； we made salaams after the fashion of the Moors； bowing the
head； bending the body； and crossing the arms on the breast。 Shortly
afterwards at the same window a small cross made of reeds was put
out and immediately withdrawn。 This sign led us to believe that some
Christian woman was a captive in the house； and that it was she who
had been so good to us； but the whiteness of the hand and the
bracelets we had perceived made us dismiss that idea； though we
thought it might be one of the Christian renegades whom their
masters very often take as lawful wives； and gladly； for they prefer
them to the women of their own nation。 In all our conjectures we
were wide of the truth； so from that time forward our sole
occupation was watching and gazing at the window where the cross had
appeared to us； as if it were our pole…star； but at least fifteen days
passed without our seeing either it or the hand； or any other sign and
though meanwhile we endeavoured with the utmost pains to ascertain who
it was that lived in the house； and whether there were any Christian
renegade in it； nobody could ever tell us anything more than that he
who lived there was a rich Moor of high position； Hadji Morato by
name； formerly alcaide of La Pata； an office of high dignity among
them。 But when we least thought it was going to rain any more cianis
from that quarter； we saw the reed suddenly appear with another
cloth tied in a larger knot attached to it； and this at a time when；
as on the former occasion； the bano was deserted and unoccupied。
We made trial as before； each of the same three going forward before
I did； but the reed was delivered to none but me； and on my approach
it was let drop。 I untied the knot and I found forty Spanish gold
crowns with a paper written in Arabic； and at the end of the writing
there was a large cross drawn。 I kissed the cross； took the crowns and
returned to the terrace； and we all made our salaams； again the hand
appeared； I made signs that I would read the paper； and then the
window was closed。 We were all puzzled； though filled with joy at what
had taken place； and as none of us understood Arabic； great was our
curiosity to know what the paper contained； and still greater the
difficulty of finding some one to read it。 At last I resolved to
confide in a renegade； a native of Murcia； who professed a very
great friendship for me； and had given pledges that bound him to
keep any secret I might entrust to him； for it is the custom with some
renegades； when they intend to return to Christian territory； to carry
about them certificates from captives of mark testifying； in
whatever form they can； that such and such a renegade is a worthy
man who has always shown kindness to Christians； and is anxious to
escape on the first opportunity that may present itself。 Some obtain
these testimonials with good intentions； others put them to a
cunning use； for when they go to pillage on Christian territory； if
they chance to be cast away； or taken prisoners； they produce their
certificates and say that from these papers may be seen the object
they came for； which was to remain on Christian ground； and that it
was to this end they joined the Turks