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Rh also know that my enemy, Sidi Hassan, is more than usually on the alert just now; I think it well to delay for a time. Besides," he added, smiling, "you surely would not have me begin a revolution on the very eve of my marriage!"

"I would have you lose as little time as possible," replied the cadi. "But see, if I mistake not, these two men are eyeing us rather narrowly."

Seeing that they were observed, Rais Ali advanced, and, with a low salaam, delivered his message to Sidi Omar, who gave him the necessary reply and dismissed him.

Resuming their conference, the two magnates turned to saunter along the street, when Omar observed a dark object like a dog coiled up in an angle of the parapet. Poking it with his cane, he caused it to uncoil and display the vacant features of a half-witted negro boy. The poor creature fell on his knees in alarm on seeing the well-known face of Sidi Omar, but sprang to his feet with alacrity, and ran off at full speed on being sternly told to "be gone."

"Meanwhile Rais Ali led his friend safely through the Bab-el-Oued gate, and, turning his face in the right direction said—

"Now, you git 'ome, fast. Keep 'er steady—a point morer to the westward—so, yoo can't go wrong."