"I only know that it is a religious service, though some one told me, when I was here last, that it was in imitation of the revolutions of the heavenly bodies; but I cannot say that this is a correct explanation," replied the captain. Miss Blanche asked the same question of Louis, but he was not even as wise as the commander. "I could hardly keep from laughing," she added. "Captain Ringgold cautioned us not to laugh; for it was a religious ceremony, and should be treated with respect," replied Louis. By this time the tourists were tired enough to return to the ship; but the big four obtained permission to walk about the streets for a while, Munif to go with them. "If I were going to live here, the first thing I should do would be to kill off a lot of these dogs," said Scott, as they walked up the Rue de Pera. "The Turks would kill you if you did that," added Munif. "These dogs are the only scavengers that go about the streets," said Louis. "They don't have any swill-tubs here, but throw everything into the street. The dogs live on this garbage." "They starve on it then," replied Scott. "I have not seen a decent-looking dog among them; they are all curs." "There's a row among them," added Morris, as a tremendous howling and yelping was heard in the next street. "I did not suppose they had grit enough to fight; and they are all small dogs, lank and mangy." "There are lots of battles among them every night, more than in the daytime. All the dogs have quarters; and when one lot invades the home of another, looking for something to eat, the residents of the section attack them, and a hard fight sometimes follows, as I read the other day in Yusuf," explained Louis. "Mind your eye, Louis!" exclaimed Felix, in a low tone, grasping his friend on the shoulder. "Do you see that gentleman standing in front of Misserie's Hotel?" "I see him; but what of him?" asked Louis as all the four stopped in the street. "He has changed his rig; but you ought to know him," whispered Felix. The gentleman was dressed in European costume, and appeared to be less than thirty years old. He certainly had a very handsome face, and an elegant jet black beard. He was looking carelessly about him, and did not appear to notice the boys. A moment later he went into the hotel. "I never saw him before," Louis insisted. "Yes, you have!" exclaimed Felix. "That gentleman is Ali-Noury Pacha!" "Nonsense, Flix!" replied Louis. "If the Fatimé had come here, we should have seen her." "I did not say that he came here in his steamer," added Felix. "He has gone into the hotel. Come with me, Flix, and we will soon find out if it is he;" and Louis led the way into the house. They made their way to the reading-room, where the gentleman had seated himself in an arm-chair and picked up a newspaper. Keeping out of sight themselves, they were soon satisfied that the person was the Pacha. CHAPTER XXXVIII