Well, the gale lasted for a week, and at last one night, when I was at the helm, we dashed on the rocks of a desolate island.  I was pitched right over the mountains, and fell into the sea on the other side of the island.  I swam on shore, and got into a cave, where I fell fast asleep.  The next morning I found that there was nothing to eat except rats, and they were plentiful; but they were so quick, that I could not catch them.  I walked about, and at last discovered a great many rats together; they were at a spring of water, the only one, as I afterwards found, on the island.  Rats can’t do without water, and I thought I should have them there.  I filled up the spring, all but a hole which I sat on the top of.  When the rats came again, I filled my mouth with water, and held it wide open; they ran up to drink, and I caught their heads in my teeth, and thus I took as many as I wished.

* * * * *

“Aferin, excellent!” cried the pacha, as soon as this was explained.

* * * * *

Well, at last a vessel took me off, and I wasn’t sorry for it, for raw rats are not very good eating.  I went home again, and I hadn’t been on shore more than two hours, when who should I see but my first wife, Bet, with a robin-redbreast in tow.  ‘That’s he!’ says she.  I gave fight, but was nabbed and put into limbo, to be tried for what they call biggery, or having a wife too much.

“How does he mean?—­desire him to explain,” said the pacha, after Mustapha had conveyed the intelligence.  Mustapha obeyed.

“In our country one wife is considered a man’s allowance, and he is not to take more, that every Jack may have his Jill.  I had spliced two, so they tried me, and sent me to Botany Bay for life.”

This explanation puzzled the pacha.  “How—­what sort of a country must it be, when a man cannot have two wives?  Inshallah! please the Lord, we may have hundreds in our harem!  Does he not laugh at our beards with lies?  Is this not all bosh, nothing?”

“It is even so, as the Frank speaketh,” replied Mustapha.  “The king of the country can take but one wife.  Be chesm, on my eyes be it, if it is not the truth.”

“Well,” rejoined the pacha, “what are they but infidels?  They deserve to have no more.  Houris are for the faithful.  May their fathers’ graves be defiled.  Let the Giaour proceed.”

* * * * *

Well, I was started for the other side of the water, and got there safe enough, as I hope one day to get to Heaven, wind and weather permitting, but I had no idea of working without pay, so one fine morning I slipt away into the woods, where I remained with three or four more for six months.  We lived upon kangaroos, and another odd little animal, and got on pretty well.

* * * * *

“What may the dish of kangaroos be composed of?” inquired Mustapha, in obedience to the pacha.