Well, as soon as we were rid of the Frenchmen, we made our port, and soon had another cargo on board, and, after a good run, got safe to the Havannah, where we sold our slaves; but I didn't much like the sarvice, so I cut the schooner, and sailed home in summer, and got back safe to England. There I fell in with Betsy, and as she proved a regular out-and-outer, I spliced her; and a famous wedding we had of it, as long as the rhino lasted; but that wasn't long, the more's the pity; so I went to sea for more. When I came back after my trip, I found that Bet hadn't behaved quite so well as she might have done, so I cut my stick, and went away from her altogether. * * * * * "Why didn't you put her in a sack?" inquired the pacha, when Mustapha explained. "Put her head in a bag--no, she wasn't so ugly as all that," replied the sailor. "Howsomever, to coil away." * * * * * I joined a privateer brig, and after three cruises I had plenty of money, and determined to have another spell on shore, that I might get rid of it. Then I picked up Sue, and spliced again; but, Lord bless your heart, she turned out a regular-built Tartar--nothing but fight fight, scratch scratch, all day long, till I wished her at old Scratch. I was tired of her, and Sue had taken a fancy to another chap; so says she one day, "As we both be of the same mind, why don't you sell me, and then we may part in a respectable manner." I agrees, and I puts a halter round her neck, and leads her to the market-place, the chap following to buy her. "Who bids for this woman?" says I. "I do," say he. "What will you give?" "Half-a-crown," says he. "Will you throw a glass of grog into the bargain?" "Yes," says he. "Then she's yours; and I wish you much joy of your bargain." So I hands the rope to him, and he leads her off. "How much did you say he sold his wife for?" said the pacha to Mustapha, when this part of the story was repeated to him. "A piastre, and a drink of the fire-water," replied the vizier. "Ask him if she was handsome," said the pacha. "Handsome," replied the sailor to Mustapha's inquiry; "yes, she was as pretty a craft to look at as you may set your eyes upon; fine round counter--clean run--swelling bows--good figure-head, and hair enough for a mermaid." "What does he say?" inquired the pacha. "The Frank declareth that her eyes were bright as those of the gazelle, that her eyebrows were as one, her waist as that of the cypress, her face as the full moon, and that she was fat as the houris that await the true believers." "Mashallah! all for a piastre. Ask him, Mustapha, if there are more wives to be sold in that country?" "More," replied the sailor, in answer to Mustapha; "you may have a ship full in an hour. There's many a fellow in England who would give a handful of coin to get rid of his wife." "We will make further inquiry, Mustapha; it must be looked to. Say I not well?"