without any fear； except that of coming across some vessel out on a
roving expedition。 We gave the Moorish rowers some food； and the
renegade comforted them by telling them that they were not held as
captives； as we should set them free on the first opportunity。
The same was said to Zoraida's father； who replied； 〃Anything
else； Christian； I might hope for or think likely from your generosity
and good behaviour； but do not think me so simple as to imagine you
will give me my liberty； for you would have never exposed yourselves
to the danger of depriving me of it only to restore it to me so
generously； especially as you know who I am and the sum you may expect
to receive on restoring it； and if you will only name that； I here
offer you all you require for myself and for my unhappy daughter
there； or else for her alone； for she is the greatest and most
precious part of my soul。〃
As he said this he began to weep so bitterly that he filled us all
with compassion and forced Zoraida to look at him； and when she saw
him weeping she was so moved that she rose from my feet and ran to
throw her arms round him； and pressing her face to his； they both gave
way to such an outburst of tears that several of us were constrained
to keep them company。
But when her father saw her in full dress and with all her jewels
about her； he said to her in his own language； 〃What means this； my
daughter？ Last night； before this terrible misfortune in which we
are plunged befell us； I saw thee in thy everyday and indoor garments；
and now； without having had time to attire thyself； and without my
bringing thee any joyful tidings to furnish an occasion for adorning
and bedecking thyself； I see thee arrayed in the finest attire it
would be in my power to give thee when fortune was most kind to us。
Answer me this； for it causes me greater anxiety and surprise than
even this misfortune itself。〃
The renegade interpreted to us what the Moor said to his daughter；
she； however； returned him no answer。 But when he observed in one
corner of the vessel the little trunk in which she used to keep her
jewels； which he well knew he had left in Algiers and had not
brought to the garden； he was still more amazed； and asked her how
that trunk had come into our hands； and what there was in it。 To which
the renegade； without waiting for Zoraida to reply； made answer； 〃Do
not trouble thyself by asking thy daughter Zoraida so many
questions； senor； for the one answer I will give thee will serve for
all； I would have thee know that she is a Christian； and that it is
she who has been the file for our chains and our deliverer from
captivity。 She is here of her own free will； as glad； I imagine； to
find herself in this position as he who escapes from darkness into the
light； from death to life； and from suffering to glory。〃
〃Daughter； is this true； what he says？〃 cried the Moor。
〃It is；〃 replied Zoraida。
〃That thou art in truth a Christian；〃 said the old man； 〃and that
thou hast given thy father into the power of his enemies？〃
To which Zoraida made answer； 〃A Christian I am； but it is not I who
have placed thee in this position； for it never was my wish to leave
thee or do thee harm； but only to do good to myself。〃
〃And what good hast thou done thyself； daughter？〃 said he。
〃Ask thou that；〃 said she； 〃of Lela Marien； for she can tell thee
better than I。〃
The Moor had hardly heard these words when with marvellous quickness
he flung himself headforemost into the sea； where no doubt he would
have been drowned had not the long and full dress he wore held him
up for a little on the surface of the water。 Zoraida cried aloud to us
to save him； and we all hastened to help； and seizing him by his
robe we drew him in half drowned and insensible； at which Zoraida
was in such distress that she wept over him as piteously and
bitterly as though he were already dead。 We turned him upon his face
and he voided a great quantity of water； and at the end of two hours
came to himself。 Meanwhile； the wind having changed we were
compelled to head for the land； and ply our oars to avoid being driven
on shore； but it was our good fortune to reach a creek that lies on
one side of a small promontory or cape； called by the Moors that of
the 〃Cava rumia；〃 which in our language means 〃the wicked Christian
woman；〃 for it is a tradition among them that La Cava； through whom
Spain was lost； lies buried at that spot； 〃cava〃 in their language
meaning 〃wicked woman；〃 and 〃rumia〃 〃Christian；〃 moreover； they
count it unlucky to anchor there when necessity compels them； and they
never do so otherwise。 For us； however； it was not the resting…place
of the wicked woman but a haven of safety for our relief； so much
had the sea now got up。 We posted a look…out on shore； and never let
the oars out of our hands； and ate of the stores the renegade had laid
in； imploring God and Our Lady with all our hearts to help and protect
us； that we might give a happy ending to a beginning so prosperous。 At
the entreaty of Zoraida orders were given to set on shore her father
and the other Moors who were still bound； for she could not endure；
nor could her tender heart bear to see her father in bonds and her
fellow…countrymen prisoners before her eyes。 We promised her to do
this at the moment of departure； for as it was uninhabited we ran no
risk in releasing them at that place。
Our prayers were not so far in vain as to be unheard by Heaven；
for after a while the wind changed in our favour； and made the sea
calm； inviting us once more to resume our voyage with a good heart。
Seeing this we unbound the Moors； and one by one put them on shore； at
which they were filled with amazement； but when we came to land
Zoraida's father； who had now completely recovered his senses； he
said：
〃Why is it； think ye； Christians； that this wicked woman is rejoiced
at your giving me my liberty？ Think ye it is because of the
affection she bears me？ Nay verily； it is only because of the
hindrance my presence offers to the execution of her base designs。 And
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 t