Behind him were four black police, and on either side of the company were two criers of the street, each carrying a short staff festooned with strings of copper coin, which he rattled in the air for a bell.

Between these came the victims of the Basha's order--Naomi first, barefooted, bareheaded, stripped of all but the last garment that hid her nakedness, her head held down, her face hidden, and her eyes closed--and Israel afterwards, mounted on a lean and ragged ass.

A further guard of black police walked at the back of all.

Thus they came down the steep arcades into the market-square, where the greater body of the townspeople had gathered together.
When the people saw them, they made for them, hastening in crowds from every side of the Feddan, from every adjacent alley, every shop, tent, and booth.

And when they saw who the prisoners were they burst into loud exclamations of surprise.
"Ya Allah! Israel the Jew!" cried the Moors.
"God of Jacob, save us! Israel ben Oliel!" cried the people of the Mellah.
"What is it?
What has happened?
What has befallen them ?" they all asked together.
"Balak!" cried the soldier in front, swinging his staff before him to force a passage through the thronging multitude.