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might be seen what value my master set on me； as I had given one
thousand five hundred zoltanis for me； to which she replied； 〃Hadst
thou been my father's； I can tell thee； I would not have let him
part with thee for twice as much； for you Christians always tell
lies about yourselves and make yourselves out poor to cheat the
Moors。〃
〃That may be； lady；〃 said I； 〃but indeed I dealt truthfully with
my master； as I do and mean to do with everybody in the world。〃
〃And when dost thou go？〃 said Zoraida。
〃To…morrow； I think；〃 said I； 〃for there is a vessel here from
France which sails to…morrow； and I think I shall go in her。〃
〃Would it not be better；〃 said Zoraida； 〃to wait for the arrival
of ships from Spain and go with them and not with the French who are
not your friends？〃
〃No；〃 said I； 〃though if there were intelligence that a vessel
were now coming from Spain it is true I might； perhaps； wait for it；
however； it is more likely I shall depart to…morrow； for the longing I
feel to return to my country and to those I love is so great that it
will not allow me to wait for another opportunity； however more
convenient； if it be delayed。〃
〃No doubt thou art married in thine own country；〃 said Zoraida； 〃and
for that reason thou art anxious to go and see thy wife。〃
〃I am not married；〃 I replied； 〃but I have given my promise to marry
on my arrival there。〃
〃And is the lady beautiful to whom thou hast given it？〃 said
Zoraida。
〃So beautiful；〃 said I； 〃that； to describe her worthily and tell
thee the truth； she is very like thee。〃
At this her father laughed very heartily and said； 〃By Allah；
Christian； she must be very beautiful if she is like my daughter；
who is the most beautiful woman in all this kingdom： only look at
her well and thou wilt see I am telling the truth。〃
Zoraida's father as the better linguist helped to interpret most
of these words and phrases； for though she spoke the bastard language；
that； as I have said； is employed there； she expressed her meaning
more by signs than by words。
While we were still engaged in this conversation； a Moor came
running up； exclaiming that four Turks had leaped over the fence or
wall of the garden； and were gathering the fruit though it was not yet
ripe。 The old man was alarmed and Zoraida too； for the Moors commonly；
and； so to speak； instinctively have a dread of the Turks； but
particularly of the soldiers； who are so insolent and domineering to
the Moors who are under their power that they treat them worse than if
they were their slaves。 Her father said to Zoraida； 〃Daughter；
retire into the house and shut thyself in while I go and speak to
these dogs； and thou； Christian； pick thy herbs； and go in peace；
and Allah bring thee safe to thy own country。〃
I bowed； and he went away to look for the Turks； leaving me alone
with Zoraida； who made as if she were about to retire as her father
bade her； but the moment he was concealed by the trees of the
garden； turning to me with her eyes full of tears she said； Tameji；
cristiano； tameji？〃 that is to say； 〃Art thou going； Christian； art
thou going？〃
I made answer； 〃Yes； lady； but not without thee； come what may： be
on the watch for me on the next Juma； and be not alarmed when thou
seest us； for most surely we shall go to the land of the Christians。〃
This I said in such a way that she understood perfectly all that
passed between us； and throwing her arm round my neck she began with
feeble steps to move towards the house； but as fate would have it （and
it might have been very unfortunate if Heaven had not otherwise
ordered it）； just as we were moving on in the manner and position I
have described； with her arm round my neck； her father； as he returned
after having sent away the Turks； saw how we were walking and we
perceived that he saw us； but Zoraida； ready and quickwitted； took
care not to remove her arm from my neck； but on the contrary drew
closer to me and laid her head on my breast； bending her knees a
little and showing all the signs and tokens of ainting； while I at the
same time made it seem as though I were supporting her against my
will。 Her father came running up to where we were； and seeing his
daughter in this state asked what was the matter with her； she；
however； giving no answer； he said； 〃No doubt she has fainted in alarm
at the entrance of those dogs；〃 and taking her from mine he drew her
to his own breast； while she sighing； her eyes still wet with tears；
said again； 〃Ameji； cristiano； ameji〃… 〃Go； Christian； go。〃 To this
her father replied； 〃There is no need； daughter； for the Christian
to go； for he has done thee no harm； and the Turks have now gone； feel
no alarm； there is nothing to hurt thee； for as I say； the Turks at my
request have gone back the way they came。〃
〃It was they who terrified her； as thou hast said； senor；〃 said I to
her father； 〃but since she tells me to go； I have no wish to displease
her： peace be with thee； and with thy leave I will come back to this
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；