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Keeping about twenty yards behind, they followed the slaves into the Kasba, where they met with no interruption from the guards, who seemed to be well acquainted with Peter the Great, though they did not condescend to notice him, except by a passing glance. "How is it that every one lets you pass so easily?" asked Foster, when they had nearly reached the southern wall of the fortress.
"Dey do say dat de fadder is at work on de for'fications on de sout' side ob de Kasba." "Well, you are a greater fool than I took you for," said Osman, in whom contempt was quickly taking the place of anger. "I s'pose I is, massa. An' I s'pose it am part ob my foolishness to be lookin' arter dis yar gal but den, you see, I lubs Ben-Ahmed, so " "Well, well, Peter, I believe you mean well "
His thoughts crystallised, however, as he went along, and he had finally made up his mind what to do by the time he passed the portals Bab-Azoun and entered the streets of Algiers. Threading his way carefully through the badly lighted streets, our middy went straight to the Kasba, and, rapping boldly at the gate, demanded admittance. "Show me to the guard-room.
Blushing with shame that he should have thought of his own feelings before her anxieties, Foster dropped the little hand which he had already grasped, and hastened to tell of the meeting with her father in the Kasba the ease with which he had recognised him from her description, and the few hurried words of comfort he had been able to convey before the slave-driver interfered.
Native soldiers went by to the Kasba on the height, or strolled down towards the Cafes Maures smoking cigarettes. Circles of grave men bent over card games, dominoes and draughts called by the Arabs the Ladies' Game. Khodjas made their way with dignity towards the Bureau Arabe.
Conversing thus pleasantly, the white slave and the black left the Kasba together and descended into the town. Many months passed, after the events narrated in the last chapter, before George Foster had the good-fortune to meet again with Hugh Sommers, and several weeks elapsed before he had the chance of another interview with the daughter.
Why do they go to so much expense in such a place as this?" "Oh! as to expense, Geo'ge. Dey don't go to none. You see, we hab no end ob slabes here, ob all kinds, an' trades an' purfessions, what cost nuffin but a leetle black bread to keep 'em alibe, an' a whackin' now an' den to make 'em work. Bress you! dem marble fountains an' t'ings cost the pirits nuffin. Now we's goin' up to see the Kasba."
"What is that, Peter?" "What! you not know what de Kasba am? My, how ignorant you is! De Kasba is de citad'l de fort where all de money an' t'ings treasure you call it am kep' safe. Strong place, de Kasba awrful strong." "I'll be glad to see that," said Foster. "Ho yes.
And the city was full of music, of tomtoms throbbing, of bugles blowing in the Kasba, of pipes shrieking from hidden dwellings, and of the faint but multitudinous voices of men, carried to them on their desolate and treeless height by the frail wind of night that seemed a white wind, twin-brother of the sands.
"De back's all right now. Moreober I did deserb it, for I's an awrful sinner! Wuss dan you t'ink! Now, if you keep right up as you go, an' when you comes to de Kasba turn to de right an' keep so till you comes to de right angle ob de sout' wall. De fadder he work dar. I'll send Ali arter you, quick's I can."
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