He was seized by four slaves, gagged, tied hand and foot, covered with a thick burnous, and carried out from his cell.

By the sound of their feet he heard that they were passing into the open air, and guessed that he was being carried through the garden; then a door opened and was closed after them; he was flung across a horse like a bale of goods, a rope or two were placed around him to keep him in that position, and then he felt the animal put in motion, and heard by the trampling of feet that a considerable number of horsemen were around him.

For some time they passed over the rough, uneven streets of the city; then there was a pause and exchange of watchword and countersign, a creaking of doors, and a lowering of a drawbridge, and the party issued out into the open country.

Not for very long did they continue their way; a halt was called, and Cuthbert was taken off his horse.
On looking round, he found that he was in the middle of a considerable group of men.

Those who had brought him were a party of the governor's guards; but he was now delivered over to a large band of Arabs, all of whom were mounted on camels.