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think not that it is her belief that yours is better than ours that
has led her to change her religion； it is only because she knows
that immodesty is more freely practised in your country than in ours。〃
Then turning to Zoraida； while I and another of the Christians held
him fast by both arms； lest he should do some mad act； he said to her；
〃Infamous girl； misguided maiden； whither in thy blindness and madness
art thou going in the hands of these dogs； our natural enemies？ Cursed
be the hour when I begot thee！ Cursed the luxury and indulgence in
which I reared thee！〃
But seeing that he was not likely soon to cease I made haste to
put him on shore； and thence he continued his maledictions and
lamentations aloud； calling on Mohammed to pray to Allah to destroy
us； to confound us； to make an end of us； and when； in consequence
of having made sail； we could no longer hear what he said we could see
what he did； how he plucked out his beard and tore his hair and lay
writhing on the ground。 But once he raised his voice to such a pitch
that we were able to hear what he said。 〃Come back； dear daughter；
come back to shore； I forgive thee all； let those men have the
money； for it is theirs now； and come back to comfort thy sorrowing
father； who will yield up his life on this barren strand if thou
dost leave him。〃
All this Zoraida heard； and heard with sorrow and tears； and all she
could say in answer was； 〃Allah grant that Lela Marien； who has made
me become a Christian； give thee comfort in thy sorrow； my father。
Allah knows that I could not do otherwise than I have done； and that
these Christians owe nothing to my will； for even had I wished not
to accompany them； but remain at home； it would have been impossible
for me； so eagerly did my soul urge me on to the accomplishment of
this purpose； which I feel to be as righteous as to thee； dear father；
it seems wicked。〃
But neither could her father hear her nor we see him when she said
this； and so； while I consoled Zoraida； we turned our attention to our
voyage； in which a breeze from the right point so favoured us that
we made sure of finding ourselves off the coast of Spain on the morrow
by daybreak。 But； as good seldom or never comes pure and unmixed；
without being attended or followed by some disturbing evil that
gives a shock to it； our fortune； or perhaps the curses which the Moor
had hurled at his daughter （for whatever kind of father they may
come from these are always to be dreaded）； brought it about that
when we were now in mid…sea； and the night about three hours spent； as
we were running with all sail set and oars lashed； for the favouring
breeze saved us the trouble of using them； we saw by the light of
the moon； which shone brilliantly； a square…rigged vessel in full sail
close to us； luffing up and standing across our course； and so close
that we had to strike sail to avoid running foul of her； while they
too put the helm hard up to let us pass。 They came to the side of
the ship to ask who we were； whither we were bound； and whence we
came； but as they asked this in French our renegade said； 〃Let no
one answer； for no doubt these are French corsairs who plunder all
comers。〃 Acting on this warning no one answered a word； but after we
had gone a little ahead； and the vessel was now lying to leeward；
suddenly they fired two guns； and apparently both loaded with
chain…shot； for with one they cut our mast in half and brought down
both it and the sail into the sea； and the other； discharged at the
same moment； sent a ball into our vessel amidships； staving her in
completely； but without doing any further damage。 We； however； finding
ourselves sinking began to shout for help and call upon those in the
ship to pick us up as we were beginning to fill。 They then lay to； and
lowering a skiff or boat； as many as a dozen Frenchmen； well armed
with match…locks； and their matches burning； got into it and came
alongside； and seeing how few we were； and that our vessel was going
down； they took us in； telling us that this had come to us through our
incivility in not giving them an answer。 Our renegade took the trunk
containing Zoraida's wealth and dropped it into the sea without anyone
perceiving what he did。 In short we went on board with the
Frenchmen； who； after having ascertained all they wanted to know about
us； rifled us of everything we had； as if they had been our
bitterest enemies； and from Zoraida they took even the anklets she
wore on her feet； but the distress they caused her did not distress me
so much as the fear I was in that from robbing her of her rich and
precious jewels they would proceed to rob her of the most precious
jewel that she valued more than all。 The desires； however； of those
people do not go beyond money； but of that their covetousness is
insatiable； and on this occasion it was carried to such a pitch that
they would have taken even the clothes we wore as captives if they had
been worth anything to them。 It was the advice of some of them to
throw us all into the sea wrapped up in a sail； for their purpose
was to trade at some of the ports of Spain； giving themselves out as
Bretons； and if they brought us alive they would be punished as soon
as the robbery was discovered； but the captain （who was the one who
had plundered my beloved Zoraida） said he was satisfied with the prize
he had got； and that he would not touch at any Spanish port； but
pass the Straits of Gibraltar by night； or as best he could； and
make for La Rochelle； from which he had sailed。 So they agreed by
common consent to give us the skiff belonging to their ship and all we
required for the short voyage that remained to us； and this they did
the next day on coming in sight of the Spanish coast； with which；
and the joy we felt； all our sufferings and miseries were as
completely forgotten as if they had never been endured by us； such
is the delight of recovering lost liberty。
It may have been about mid…day when they placed us in the boat；
giving us two kegs of water and some biscuit； and the captain； moved
by I know not what compassion； as the lovely Zoraida was about to
embark； gave her some forty gold crowns； and would not permit his
men to take from her those same garments which she has on now。 We
got into the boat； returning them thanks for their kindness to us； and
showing ourselves grateful rather than indignant。 They stood out to
sea； steering for the straits； we； without looking to any compass save
the land we had before us； set ourselves to row with such energy
that by sunset we were so near that we might easily； we thought；
land before the night was far advanced。 But as the moon did not show
that night； and the sky was clouded； and as we knew not whereabouts we
were； it did not seem to us a prudent thing to make for the shore；
as several of us advised； saying we ought to run ourselves ashore even
if it were on rocks and far from any habitation； for in this way we
should be relieved from the apprehensions we naturally felt of the
prowling vessels of the Tetuan corsairs； who leave Barbary at
nightfall and are on the Spanish coast by daybreak； where they
commonly take some prize；