“But,” says he, “we may expect one in a few days, and rest you assured that your wish shall be gratified if it be possible.”

We went down, Dawson and I, to the sea that afternoon; and, sitting on the shore at that point where we had formerly embarked aboard the Algerine galley, we scanned the waters for a sail that might be coming hither, and Dawson with the eagerness of one who looked to escape from slavery rather than one seeking it.

As we sat watching the sea, he fell a-regretting he had no especial gift of nature, by which he might more readily purchase Moll’s freedom of her captors.

“However,” says he, “if I can show ’em the use of chairs and benches, for lack of which they are now compelled, as we see, to squat on mats and benches, I may do pretty well with Turks of the better sort who can afford luxuries, and so in time gain my end.”

“You shall teach me this business, Jack,” says I, “for at present I’m more helpless than you.”

“Kit,” says he, laying hold of my hand, “let us have no misunderstanding on this matter.  You go not to Barbary with me.”

“What!” cries I, protesting.  “You would have the heart to break from me after we have shared good and ill fortune together like two brothers all these years?”

“God knows we shall part with sore hearts o’ both sides, and I shall miss you sadly enough, with no Christian to speak to out there.  But ’tis not of ourselves we must think now.  Some one must be here to be a father to my Moll when she returns, and I’ll trust Don Sanchez no farther than I can see him, for all his wisdom.  So, as you love the dear girl, you will stay here, Kit, to be her watch and ward, and as you love me you will spare me any further discussion on this head.  For I am resolved.”

I would say nothing then to contrary him, but my judgment and feeling both revolted against his decision.  For, thinks I, if one Christian is worth but a groat to the Turk, two must be worth eightpence, therefore we together stand a better chance of buying Moll’s freedom than either singly.  And, for my own happiness, I would easier be a slave in Barbary with Jack than free elsewhere and friendless.  Nowhere can a man be free from toil and pain of some sort or another, and there is no such solace in the world for one’s discomforts as the company of a true man.

But I was not regardless of Moll’s welfare when she returned, neither.  For I argued with myself that Mr. Godwin had but to know of her condition to find means of coming hither for her succour.  So the next time I met Don Sanchez, I took him aside and told him of my concern, asking him the speediest manner of sending a letter to England (that I had enclosed in mine to the Don having missed him through his leaving Toledo before it arrived).

“There is no occasion to write,” says he.  “For the moment I learnt your history from Sidi I sent a letter, apprising him of his wife’s innocence in this business, and the noble reparation she had made for the fault of others.  Also, I took the liberty to enclose a sum of money to meet his requirements, and I’ll answer for it he is now on his way hither.  For no man living could be dull to the charms of his wife, or bear resentment to her for an act that was prompted by love rather than avarice, and with no calculation on her part.”