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all to Christian territory； and in the end it was agreed that for
the present we should wait for a second communication from Zoraida
（for that was the name of her who now desires to be called Maria）；
because we saw clearly that she and no one else could find a way out
of all these difficulties。 When we had decided upon this the
renegade told us not to be uneasy； for he would lose his life or
restore us to liberty。 For four days the bano was filled with
people； for which reason the reed delayed its appearance for four
days； but at the end of that time； when the bano was； as it
generally was； empty； it appeared with the cloth so bulky that it
promised a happy birth。 Reed and cloth came down to me； and I found
another paper and a hundred crowns in gold； without any other coin。
The renegade was present； and in our cell we gave him the paper to
read； which was to this effect：
〃I cannot think of a plan； senor； for our going to Spain； nor has
Lela Marien shown me one； though I have asked her。 All that can be
done is for me to give you plenty of money in gold from this window。
With it ransom yourself and your friends； and let one of you go to the
land of the Christians； and there buy a vessel and come back for the
others； and he will find me in my father's garden； which is at the
Babazon gate near the seashore； where I shall be all this summer
with my father and my servants。 You can carry me away from there by
night without any danger； and bring me to the vessel。 And remember
thou art to be my husband； else I will pray to Marien to punish
thee。 If thou canst not trust anyone to go for the vessel； ransom
thyself and do thou go； for I know thou wilt return more surely than
any other； as thou art a gentleman and a Christian。 Endeavour to
make thyself acquainted with the garden； and when I see thee walking
yonder I shall know that the bano is empty and I will give thee
abundance of money。 Allah protect thee； senor。〃
These were the words and contents of the second paper； and on
hearing them； each declared himself willing to be the ransomed one；
and promised to go and return with scrupulous good faith； and I too
made the same offer； but to all this the renegade objected； saying
that he would not on any account consent to one being set free
before all went together； as experience had taught him how ill those
who have been set free keep promises which they made in captivity； for
captives of distinction frequently had recourse to this plan； paying
the ransom of one who was to go to Valencia or Majorca with money to
enable him to arm a bark and return for the others who had ransomed
him； but who never came back； for recovered liberty and the dread of
losing it again efface from the memory all the obligations in the
world。 And to prove the truth of what he said； he told us briefly what
had happened to a certain Christian gentleman almost at that very
time； the strangest case that had ever occurred even there； where
astonishing and marvellous things are happening every instant。 In
short； he ended by saying that what could and ought to be done was
to give the money intended for the ransom of one of us Christians to
him； so that he might with it buy a vessel there in Algiers under
the pretence of becoming a merchant and trader at Tetuan and along the
coast； and when master of the vessel； it would be easy for him to
hit on some way of getting us all out of the bano and putting us on
board； especially if the Moorish lady gave； as she said； money
enough to ransom all； because once free it would be the easiest
thing in the world for us to embark even in open day； but the greatest
difficulty was that the Moors do not allow any renegade to buy or
own any craft； unless it be a large vessel for going on roving
expeditions； because they are afraid that anyone who buys a small
vessel； especially if he be a Spaniard； only wants it for the
purpose of escaping to Christian territory。 This however he could
get over by arranging with a Tagarin Moor to go shares with him in the
purchase of the vessel； and in the profit on the cargo； and under
cover of this he could become master of the vessel； in which case he
looked upon all the rest as accomplished。 But though to me and my
comrades it had seemed a better plan to send to Majorca for the
vessel； as the Moorish lady suggested； we did not dare to oppose
him； fearing that if we did not do as he said he would denounce us；
and place us in danger of losing all our lives if he were to
disclose our dealings with Zoraida； for whose life we would have all
given our own。 We therefore resolved to put ourselves in the hands
of God and in the renegade's； and at the same time an answer was given
to Zoraida； telling her that we would do all she recommended； for
she had given as good advice as if Lela Marien had delivered it； and
that it depended on her alone whether we were to defer the business or
put it in execution at once。 I renewed my promise to be her husband；
and thus the next day that the bano chanced to be empty she at
different times gave us by means of the reed and cloth two thousand
gold crowns and a paper in which she said that the next Juma； that
is to say Friday； she was going to her father's garden； but that
before she went she would give us more money； and if it were not
enough we were to let her know； as she would give us as much as we
asked； for her father had so much he would not miss it； and besides
she kept all the keys。
We at once gave the renegade five hundred crowns to buy the
vessel； and with eight hundred I ransomed myself； giving the money
to a Valencian merchant who happened to be in Algiers at the time； and
who had me released on his word； pledging it that on the arrival of
the first ship from Valencia he would pay my ransom； for if he had
given the money at once it would have made the king suspect that my
ransom money had been for a long time in Algiers； and that the
merchant had for his own advantage kept it secret。 In fact my master
was so difficult to deal with that I dared not on any account pay down
the money at once。 The Thursday before the Friday on which the fair
Zoraida was to go to the garden she gave us a thousand crowns more；
and warned us of her departure； begging me； if I were ransomed； to
find out her father's garden at once； and by all means to seek an
opportunity of going there to see her。 I answered in a few words
that I would do so； and that she must remember to commend us to Lela
Marien with all the prayers the captive had taught her。 This having
been done； steps were taken to ransom our three comrades； so as to
enable them to quit the bano； and lest； seeing me ransomed and
themselves not； though the money was forthcoming； they should make a
disturbance about it and the devil should prompt them to do
something that might injure Zoraida； for though their position might
be sufficient to relieve me from this apprehension； nevertheless I was
unwilling to run any risk in the matter； and so I had them ransomed in
the same way as I was； handing over all the money to the merchant so
that he might with safety and confidence give security； without；
however； confiding our arrangemen