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that he might with safety and confidence give security； without；
however； confiding our arrangement and secret to him； which might have
been dangerous。
CHAPTER XLI
IN WHICH THE CAPTIVE STILL CONTINUES HIS ADVENTURES
BEFORE fifteen days were over our renegade had already purchased
an excellent vessel with room for more than thirty persons； and to
make the transaction safe and lend a colour to it； he thought it
well to make； as he did； a voyage to a place called Shershel； twenty
leagues from Algiers on the Oran side； where there is an extensive
trade in dried figs。 Two or three times he made this voyage in company
with the Tagarin already mentioned。 The Moors of Aragon are called
Tagarins in Barbary； and those of Granada Mudejars； but in the Kingdom
of Fez they call the Mudejars Elches； and they are the people the king
chiefly employs in war。 To proceed： every time he passed with his
vessel he anchored in a cove that was not two crossbow shots from
the garden where Zoraida was waiting； and there the renegade； together
with the two Moorish lads that rowed； used purposely to station
himself； either going through his prayers； or else practising as a
part what he meant to perform in earnest。 And thus he would go to
Zoraida's garden and ask for fruit； which her father gave him； not
knowing him； but though； as he afterwards told me； he sought to
speak to Zoraida； and tell her who he was； and that by my orders he
was to take her to the land of the Christians； so that she might
feel satisfied and easy； he had never been able to do so； for the
Moorish women do not allow themselves to be seen by any Moor or
Turk； unless their husband or father bid them： with Christian captives
they permit freedom of intercourse and communication； even more than
might be considered proper。 But for my part I should have been sorry
if he had spoken to her； for perhaps it might have alarmed her to find
her affairs talked of by renegades。 But God； who ordered it otherwise；
afforded no opportunity for our renegade's well…meant purpose； and he；
seeing how safely he could go to Shershel and return； and anchor
when and how and where he liked； and that the Tagarin his partner
had no will but his； and that； now I was ransomed； all we wanted was
to find some Christians to row； told me to look out for any I should
he willing to take with me； over and above those who had been
ransomed； and to engage them for the next Friday； which he fixed
upon for our departure。 On this I spoke to twelve Spaniards； all stout
rowers； and such as could most easily leave the city； but it was no
easy matter to find so many just then； because there were twenty ships
out on a cruise and they had taken all the rowers with them； and these
would not have been found were it not that their master remained at
home that summer without going to sea in order to finish a galliot
that he had upon the stocks。 To these men I said nothing more than
that the next Friday in the evening they were to come out stealthily
one by one and hang about Hadji Morato's garden； waiting for me
there until I came。 These directions I gave each one separately；
with orders that if they saw any other Christians there they were
not to say anything to them except that I had directed them to wait at
that spot。
This preliminary having been settled； another still more necessary
step had to be taken； which was to let Zoraida know how matters
stood that she might be prepared and forewarned； so as not to be taken
by surprise if we were suddenly to seize upon her before she thought
the Christians' vessel could have returned。 I determined； therefore；
to go to the garden and try if I could speak to her； and the day
before my departure I went there under the pretence of gathering
herbs。 The first person I met was her father； who addressed me in
the language that all over Barbary and even in Constantinople is the
medium between captives and Moors； and is neither Morisco nor
Castilian； nor of any other nation； but a mixture of all languages； by
means of which we can all understand one another。 In this sort of
language； I say； he asked me what I wanted in his garden； and to
whom I belonged。 I replied that I was a slave of the Arnaut Mami
（for I knew as a certainty that he was a very great friend of his）；
and that I wanted some herbs to make a salad。 He asked me then whether
I were on ransom or not； and what my master demanded for me。 While
these questions and answers were proceeding； the fair Zoraida； who had
already perceived me some time before； came out of the house in the
garden； and as Moorish women are by no means particular about
letting themselves be seen by Christians； or； as I have said before；
at all coy； she had no hesitation in coming to where her father
stood with me； moreover her father； seeing her approaching slowly；
called to her to come。 It would be beyond my power now to describe
to you the great beauty； the high…bred air； the brilliant attire of my
beloved Zoraida as she presented herself before my eyes。 I will
content myself with saying that more pearls hung from her fair neck；
her ears； and her hair than she had hairs on her head。 On her
ankles； which as is customary were bare； she had carcajes （for so
bracelets or anklets are called in Morisco） of the purest gold； set
with so many diamonds that she told me afterwards her father valued
them at ten thousand doubloons； and those she had on her wrists were
worth as much more。 The pearls were in profusion and very fine； for
the highest display and adornment of the Moorish women is decking
themselves with rich pearls and seed…pearls； and of these there are
therefore more among the Moors than among any other people。
Zoraida's father had to the reputation of possessing a great number；
and the purest in all Algiers； and of possessing also more than two
hundred thousand Spanish crowns； and she； who is now mistress of me
only； was mistress of all this。 Whether thus adorned she would have
been beautiful or not； and what she must have been in her
prosperity； may be imagined from the beauty remaining to her after
so many hardships； for； as everyone knows； the beauty of some women
has its times and its seasons； and is increased or diminished by
chance causes； and naturally the emotions of the mind will heighten or
impair it； though indeed more frequently they totally destroy it。 In a
word she presented herself before me that day attired with the
utmost splendour； and supremely beautiful； at any rate； she seemed
to me the most beautiful object I had ever seen； and when； besides；
I thought of all I owed to her I felt as though I had before me some
heavenly being come to earth to bring me relief and happiness。
As she approached her father told her in his own language that I was
a captive belonging to his friend the Arnaut Mami； and that I had come
for salad。
She took up the conversation； and in that mixture of tongues I
have spoken of she asked me if I was a gentleman； and why I was not
ransomed。
I answered that I was already ransomed； and that by the price it
might be seen what value my master set on me； as I had given one
thousand five hundred zoltanis for me；