"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?" "It is well said," replied Mustapha. "My heart is burnt as roast meat at the recollection of the women of the country; who are, indeed, as he hath described, houris to the sight. Proceed, Yaha bibi, my friend, and tell his--" "Yaw Bibby! I told you my name was Bill, not Bibby; and I never yaws from my course, although I heaves-to sometimes, as I do now, to take in provisions." The sailor took another swig, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, and continued. "Now for a good lie." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ I sailed in a brig for the Brazils, and a gale came on, that I never seed the like of. We were obliged to have three men stationed to hold the captain's hair on his head, and a little boy was blown over the moon, and slid down by two or three of her beams, till he caught the mainstay, and never hurt himself. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Good," said Mustapha, who interpreted. "By the beard of the Prophet, wonderful!" exclaimed the pacha. Well, the gale lasted for a week; and at last one night, when I was at the helm, we dashed on the rocks of a desolate island. I was pitched right over the mountains, and fell into the sea on the other side of the island. I swam on shore, and got into a cave, where I fell fast asleep. The next morning I found that there was nothing to eat except rats, and they were plentiful; but they were so quick, that I could not catch them. I walked about, and at last discovered a great many rats together; they were at a spring of water; the only one, as I afterwards found, on the island. Rats can't do without water; and I thought I should have them there. I filled up the spring, all but a hole which I sat on the top of. When the rats came again, I filled my mouth with water, and held it wide open; they ran up to drink, and I caught their heads in my teeth, and thus I took as many as I wished. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Aferin, excellent!" cried the pacha, as soon as this was explained.