The true Democrat., 1854-11-01
LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS, WEDNESDAY

surrender took place, all the Marseillais from whom any danger of mutiny was apprehended were manacled; and they, and all the wounded for whom there was hope of recovery, were transferred to the Algerine ship. All the bo- dies, dead or dying, of either ship were re- morselessly cast into the deep. The Algerine or Corsair crew was then divided between the two ships and all sail set for port.
 Arrived at Algiers, the prize was shared, and the captives divided among the captors, as slaves; and our Merchant became the property of fierce Arab, known as Muzza Ben Nazn Though it would seem that the interest of the master would demand humanity enough to dress the wounds, to prolong the life of the slave either for service, or in the hope of obtaining ransom for his liberty, yet the cruel Araf seemed to take delight, not only in keeping open the wounds, but also in inficting others upon his helpless captive. In the contest upon the sea he had received, upon the face, severe sabre cut from the man now in his power; and although satisfied of the dignity of his captive and having good reason to calculate on a heavy ransom, he was so bent upon revenge as to be deaf, in this instance, to the sugges- tions of avarice. He resolves that his captive shall never be redeemed, but shall live in his service, and endure every i'll that life is capable of sustaining. Feeble as he is, from the loss of blood, and pained from recent wounds, un- dressed, he is chained to a heavy barrow, and his task apportioned him with other slaves to wheel earth in the gardens of his master.- Unaccustomed to labor, and oppressed by the scorching rays of the sun, he faints and falls His fellow-slaves would raise him from the ground, but they dare not remit their labor, fol they have task master who never diminshes his demands. The captive is then permitted to lie as he fell, in the blazing face of noon till the master walking forth to observe the progress of the work, finds him prostrate on the earth, and mercilessly applies the lash to arouse him to his duty Finding him insensbe to the stroke he is ordered to be dragged to his apartment Two slaves take him by the heels and drag him, as they would some dead car cass, to his wretched hovel; and there he is per- mitted to take his chance for life or death.
 Toward nightfall he is recovered from his stupor but he is consuming with fever and thirst and there is no hand to administer him so much as drop pof cool water Wretched beyond every thing he had ever conceived of the misery of a Corsair's slave, he loathes his very existence and earnestly implores death to relieve him from his situation. But however man may weary of life, the demands of hunger and thirst are irresistible, and summoning the last resources of his energy, he crawled, upon his hands and knees, to fountain that played in the yard of his heartless oppressor. Here he slaked his thirst and feeling some relief bathed his burn ing wounds in the cool and limpd wave; and now he stretches himself upon the green grass beneath a noble tree. His thoughts involun- tarily reverted to Marseilles. his once happy home, filled with every comfort while he IS suffering for every want-to his wife, his love- ly Melanie, distracted now, perhaps, through apprehension for his safety, and yet unknowlng of his doom. If she but knew of his situation would she not make every exerton for his re- lease?-would she not send if need be, the last sous of his remaining fortune to purchase hls ransom? But, poor Melanie, she Is ignorant ot his doom; and though her heart is weighed down with grief and anxiety, it is also, ln some measure, buoyed up with hope that her loved lord still sails before a favoring gale and will in due time return with his ship richly laden with silks, and spicery, and all manner of rich goods.
 While these reveries were passing in his mind. his fellow-slaves returning from their labor, stopped at the fountain to quench their thirst, and one of them offered to assist him in re- gaining his apartment but he declined the proffered aid, thinking the cool outer air more agreeable than the pent atmosphere, contam- mated with dozen breaths. His master order ed a little rice to be administered to him, for he was not willing that hunger and death should so soon snatch him from his cruel purposes This done, there was no further care taken of him, and he was permitted to lie where he had chosen his bed
 Night deepened over the sea, and it's fresh breeze brought a welcome coolness to the te- vered brow of the captive. The stars looked out calmly from the deep blue sky, and though they might shed benign influence for some, they distilled no balm for the wounded spirit of the once proud Merchant of Marselles, yet still he has manly heart within him. and he is determined to bear up against misfortune, and, if such be Gods will, he will live for the sake of his wife and child. He feels assured that as soon as his situation is known, or even suspected, that eXertions will be made for his release; and he may yet be happy in the enjoy ment of hiswife and friends, and in the pursuit of his honorable employment. He also, cal culates the chances of escape, and resolves to avail himself of the first opportunity that oc- CUTS. He determines, moreover, that if ever he regains his native shore, he or towill endeav raise crusade dSdlllSG CHe COISdIS, dilu II pOS- sible, exteminate them from the earth. He wonders that a just God should allow such fiends to inhabt any portion of his fair creation. The thought occurs to him to negotiate with his master the terms of his ransom, and should he succeed in this, there will be no difficulty, through his instrumentality, in appraising his friends of his situation. Again, it occurs to him. that should he undertake the negotiation, the demand may be so exorbitant, as to render his liberation hopeless. He must then endure the worst that misfortune and cruelty can in- flict. While these, and a thousand other thoughts are revolving in his mind, sleep, which for some time had been almost stranger to him, suddenly alights, and seals his senses in a calm forgetfulness of his woes.
 When awakened in the morning by passing slave, he found his limbs benumbed and stiffen- ed by the coldness of the night air, and his wounds thro bbing with increased pain. As it pleased the humor of his master, he was left undisturbed in this condition for some days ex- cept, that his scanty meal of rice and millet porridge, was sent him, at such times as the boJ +bo;r o11