Alarmed by this incident he deemed it best to penetrate further into the mountains, ere he shaped his course downwards towards Massignan, as by so doing he would not be so likely to encounter any Moors but Alarbes, and against meeting them, he must guard as well as possible: it is true that by thus prolonging his journey in desert regions, he incurred the risk of perishing either by famine or by savage beasts; but he believed himself capable of warding off the latter, and for the former he did not fear, as he learned amongst the Alarbes where to find roots and berries fit for sustenance. Putting up a fervent prayer, he resumed his flight. Night surprized him in a thick forest: to proceed now would have been madness; those enormous serpents and lions with which Africa abounds, were not lightly to be braved in the darkness of vast solitudes; he therefore ascended one of the largest trees, where he watched away the remaining hours. The awfulness of his present situation, and the alarmed state of his spirits, formed a striking contrast to his late exultation: every thing around was dismal; one of those fierce winds which constantly blow in Barbary from the north-east, in the month of March, was now raving through the forest; this was mixed with the distant roar of lions, and the thrilling yell of hyenas; as each pealing blast shook the very roots of the huge oak in which he lodged, he fancied it the fury of some powerful animal, and prepared himself to encounter it with his hatchet. Night however passed away, and the rising sun flamed over a track which Sebastian now trod with tranquil thankfulness; the beans of the Alcorabe made his scanty breakfast, as he walked under its umbrageous boughs: trusting that he had now baffled pursuit, he proceeded in a direction which must bring him lower down among the green mountains, and lead directly to the Ardea:--Two hours brought him out into a wide plain skirting their feet; a broad river rolled through this plain, and over it were scattered Alarbe’s tents. Sebastian’s blood curdled with abhorrence at hearing the tinkling of Zauphens; (a barbarous musical instrument he remembered too well) as he precipitately turned back to retrace his steps, the figures of men crossing from a side eminence forced him to retreat, the men shouted on seeing him, and rushed forwards; others were quickly seen pouring from the tents; some came on foot, some on horseback; they gained upon his steps, till he distinctly recognized the voices of two Moors whom he had known under the roof of El Hader.