"But we may find some, sir," said Ben. "The Arabs are sure not to
encamp unless they can get it for themselves and their beasts."
"But suppose we miss the Arab encampment?" asked Halliday.
Ben could not answer _that_ question. I thought it was time for me to
speak.
"I am very unwilling to give up the search for Mr Boxall," I said; "but
unless we are prepared to lose our own lives, with a very remote
prospect of assisting him, I believe that our only course is to make our
way back to the coast, where we have a better chance than here of
obtaining both food and water. I propose, therefore, that we remain
here till we are rested, and then make the best of our way to the
sea-shore. We must manage, in the meantime, to do without water; and as
we have a supply of cooked limpets in our pockets, we had better make
our supper off them, and then lie down and rest. I am ready to take the
first watch; you, Ben, shall take the second; and that will give time to
Mr Halliday, who is more tired than either of us, to recover his
strength."
My companions agreed to the proposal; and hunger being our sauce, we
managed to get down a considerable portion of our store of limpets.
Knowing that should I go to sleep both myself and my companions might be
pounced upon by some wild beast, I did not venture to lie down, but
leaned forward as I sat on the ground, supporting my hands on my wooden
sword; and the moment I began to get drowsy I rose to my feet, with the
intention, as long as I could walk, of pacing up and down close to them.
I had just risen, when, turning my eyes to the north-east, I observed a
bright glare in the sky. My first idea was that it must be the moon
rising; and then I recollected that it would not appear above the
horizon for some hours, and was convinced that the light was produced by
an extensive fire. Never having heard of prairie fires in that part of
Africa,--there being little or no grass to burn,--I came to the
conclusion that there must be a camp in that direction; possibly the one
to which the Arab had carried off Boxall, though he appeared to us to
have taken a much more southerly route. I watched the light carefully,
till I was convinced that I was right, and that it came from an Arab
camp; then I at once aroused my companions.
"Now is the time to get near them, then," exclaimed Ben. "We shall be
able to see them though they cannot see us, and we shall thus have a
better chance of finding out whether Mr Boxall is among them."
We at once got up; and, guided by the light, we made our way without
difficulty. It evidently proceeded from a large encampment, as the
fires covered a considerable extent of ground,--which showed us that
there must be a number of bushes or trees in the neighbourhood, to
supply fuel. On we went, the light still increasing, till we found
ourselves on somewhat rougher ground, slanting upwards, behind which we
had no doubt the camp would be found. After going on for some time
longer, we could clearly distinguish the forms of a number of horses
standing up, and of camels lying down, with their drivers among them--
the light of the fires on the further side throwing them into bold
relief. As we walked side by side, with our eyes turned up at them, we
were all three nearly falling down together head foremost into a deep
hole, to the edge of which we had suddenly come. Ben, who was the first
to see it, caught hold of me, and I held back Halliday.
"What can it be?" he asked, kneeling down and peering into the hole.
"A well," I answered, "at which probably the animals from yonder
encampment have been watered."
"I only hope, then, that they have left us enough to quench our thirst,"
said Halliday.
Ben offered to go down and explore the hole, for in the darkness we
could not see how deep it was; and we knelt down, grasping him by the
hand while he descended.
"It's all right," he said in a low voice. "I can touch the bottom--or a
ledge, at all events; I will feel my way, and take care not to slip down
into a bottomless pit."
It was too dark to see him as he moved about, but presently a slight
splash of water sounded in our ears; after which we could hear it, as it
seemed, gurgling down his throat.
In less than a minute he came close under us. "Put down your hands," he
said; "here is something you will be thankful for."
We did as desired, and drew up a large wooden bowl attached to the end
of a rope. I gave it to Halliday first, who I knew was suffering most;
and between us we emptied the contents of the bowl, and then handed it
down to Ben,--who went back with the same caution as before and procured
an additional supply for himself and us. Having satisfied our thirst,
we hauled him up; and then sitting down on the side of the well, we
consulted what we should next do. I was of opinion that Boxall had not
been carried to this camp; but that the Arab we had seen belonged to
some other tribe, and probably had been reconnoitring in the
neighbourhood, and, catching sight of Boxall, he had hoped to gain some
advantage by making him prisoner. Ben, on the other hand, who was
convinced that our companion had been carried to the camp, was anxious
to be certain whether this was the case or not. I warned him of the
risk we should run if discovered in the neighbourhood.
"Well, they can't do more than kill us," he answered. "If they make
prisoners of us, we must do our best to escape; and if the blackamoors
have got hold of Mr Boxall, and we find him, we shall be able to help
him to get off too."
"But if we don't find him, we shall have had all our risk for nothing,"
said Halliday.
"Nothing venture, nothing win," answered Ben. "Just let me go, and I'll
take good care that these Arab rascals don't get hold of me."
At length Halliday and I, won over by honest Ben's arguments, agreed to
let him do as he proposed; it being settled that we should wait for him
close to the well.
"Thank you, gentlemen," he said. "I will make a `circumbendibus' of the
camp; and if so be I can't get sight of Mr Boxall, I will be back here
in an hour at the furthest. If I am caught or knocked on the head by
the Arabs, it will all be in the way of duty; and you will say a good
word for Ben Blewett if you ever get home."
Shaking hands with us warmly, as if he were going on a forlorn hope, he
stole off round the well towards the Arab camp.
It did not occur to us at the time, but we had really chosen as
dangerous a spot as any in the neighbourhood. In the first place, wild
beasts prowling about at night were very likely to approach the spot to
drink; and then, as a pathway led down to the well from the opposite
side, the Arabs of the camp were sure, at early dawn, to come down to
fill their water-skins,--so that should we, while waiting for Ben, fall
asleep, we must inevitably be surprised. Fatigued by our long march,
however, we could not resist the temptation of stretching our limbs on
the sand, regardless of the risk we were running--but of which, as I
have observed, neither of us thought at the time. We did our best to
keep awake, however, and after, as we supposed, an hour had elapsed,
began anxiously to look out for Ben.
The time passed by. "I say, Charlie, I am sure Ben has been gone more
than an hour," said Halliday in a drowsy tone. I scarcely understood
what he said; I tried to arouse myself--he repeated his remark.
"We must wait for him, at all events," I answered. "So, I say, keep
awake, and rouse me up should you find me dropping off to sleep." But
poor Halliday was even more sleepy than I was; and in another minute we
must both have dropped off.
We had been sleeping, I suppose, for some time, when I was aroused by
feeling a hand on my arm; and opening my eyes, I saw a black fellow
scantily clothed standing over me. He put his hand on my mouth, as a
sign that I must not cry out, showing the blade of a sharp dagger--which
he drew from his side--to enforce his commands. I saw that another had
hold of Halliday; while, to my sorrow, I found that they had also
secured Ben. His hands, poor fellow, were tied behind him;
notwithstanding which, he was making the most strenuous efforts to
escape--though it would have availed him nothing had he succeeded, as he
could not have rescued us, and must either have fallen into the hands of
other Arabs or have died of starvation.
Compelling us to get up, our captors next secured our hands in the same
fashion as they had done Ben's, and ordered us to move on. Instead of
taking us to the camp, however, they began to drag us away in the
opposite direction, towards the sea-shore, hurrying us along as fast as
they could run,--making it evident that our captors did not belong to
the camp we had seen, and were anxious to get a distance from it before
daylight. In vain, therefore, did we try to get near Ben, to ask him if
he had seen Boxall, and to learn what had happened.
I found, on looking up at the stars, that after going a short distance
they turned off to the south-west, keeping on the harder and more
elevated ground, but still verging towards the coast. This strengthened
my conviction that they belonged to a different tribe from those in the
camp, and that they had been on a marauding expedition when they fell in
with us. Perhaps they believed that we belonged to their enemies, and
hence their anxiety to hurry us away from the camp.
Day had just dawned when we saw before us a line of low dark tents,
pitched on the side of a sand-hill just above the sea-shore, with camels
and other animals standing near them, as if ready to receive their
loads, in case an immediate start should be necessary. The light of day
also revealed to us the hideous and savage countenances of our captors--
their skins almost black, and in features, many of them, closely
resembling negroes; though, from the dress of their chief, and their
camels and tents, I should have supposed them to be Arabs. They had but
scant clothing, in addition to the belts hanging over their shoulders,
and to which their daggers were attached. Their other arms were short
swords and spears.
Our arrival at the camp was announced by loud shouts from the people
assembled in front of it; on which a number of other men, with women and
children, came rushing out of the tents. Their chief, before whom we
were brought, was a tall man, of rather lighter complexion than the
rest, but with countenance not less hideous and sinister than those of
his remarkably unprepossessing followers. He inquired, in a sort of
mongrel Arabic,--which, however, I could partly understand,--who we
were, whence we had come, and how we had been found. To the latter
question alone, his people could give a reply. I heard him remark that
there must have been a shipwreck on the coast not far off, and that we
were some of the people who had escaped from it. The others agreeing
that he was right, a consultation was then held as to the direction in
which it had occurred. Thinking it was time to speak, I now stepped
forward, and making a profound salaam--for I felt that it was wise to be
polite to the savages--I said, in as good Arabic as I could command--
"Know, sheikh, that the ship on board which we were voyaging was
consumed by fire; but the great Allah whom we worship allowed us to
escape, and conducted us to your shores on a raft,--which, as a proof
that I speak the truth, will be found a day's journey to the north."
The astonishment of the black Arabs, on hearing me speak in their own
language, was very great.
"Who are you, and how is it that you can speak in our tongue?" asked the
sheikh.
"It is the custom of my people to learn the tongues of the nations they
are likely to visit, as they voyage to all the lands under the sun; and
before long we hope that our countrymen will come here to take us off,
and reward those who have treated us with hospitality," I answered,
trying to look as important as I could.
"O Nazarene, you speak big words," exclaimed the sheikh. "But
understand that your countrymen, however large their ships, will find it
a hard matter to follow you into the Desert, should we think fit to
carry you there."
"True, O sheikh; your wisdom approaches that of Solomon," I answered,
trying to imitate the Arabic style of language. "But you will then lose
the reward you would have obtained by restoring us safe to our friends.
The few articles we carry about us, seeing that we could save nothing
from the wreck, are not worthy of your acceptance. May I now inquire
what powerful prince of the Desert I have the honour of addressing?"
The sheikh appeared somewhat pleased at this speech; but he did not
relax the sternness of his features while he answered--
"Know, O Nazarene, that you are in the presence of the Sheikh Boo Bucker
Saakhi, chief of the Ouadlims," was the answer.
Though the sheikh did not appear a man likely to be won over by soft
speeches, I determined to persevere. Unslinging my telescope, I held it
out to him.
"Here is an instrument which will enable a person who looks through it
to see ten times as far as he can with his naked eye. I will present it
to you, and show you how to use it, the day a ship appears in sight, and
you enable us to get on board her."
I thought the sheikh was going to laugh; but he only grinned
sarcastically as he replied--
"Know, O Nazarene, that I can at any moment take it from you, as well as
everything else you carry, and strip you to the skin; so I value not
your promise as you think I should."
"But, O Sheikh Boo Bucker Saakhi, we wish you to understand that our
countrymen will reward you handsomely with numerous articles such as
your soul desires, if you treat us with that hospitality for which you
princes of the Desert are famed throughout the world."
"That may be true; but a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush,"
answered the sheikh. At least, he made use of an Arab proverb of a
similar tenor. "However, I will consider the matter. In the meantime,
I will receive you and the other Nazarene as guests in my tent, where
you will be pleased to exhibit the various articles you possess."
Of course, I said that we should be delighted, though I suspected what
would be the result of exhibiting our property.
"And who is yonder white man, who seems so greatly inclined to knock
over my followers?" inquired the sheikh. "His dress, I observe, differs
from yours. Is he one of your people?"
"That man, O sheikh, is a faithful follower of ours; a lion in war, and
a lamb in peace when not interfered with," I answered, looking at Ben,
who was at that minute engaged in a struggle with a dozen or more
Ouadlims, from whom he had broken loose, and who were again trying to
bind his hands.
"Let him be allowed to come here at liberty, and I will prove that what
I state regarding him is true," I added.
The sheikh shouted to his followers, and I called Ben to come to us. As
he did so, he pulled off his hat, which he flourished in the air, and
made the sheikh a polite bow. Then putting out his hand, he exclaimed--
"Give us your flipper, old fellow, and we will be good friends!--only,
tell your people to keep decent tongues in their heads, and their hands
to themselves."
"What is he talking about?" asked the sheikh, who, of course, did not
understand a word Ben had said, and was unable to comprehend his
movements.
"He says that he is ready to fight for and serve you, O sheikh, as he
has served his own chief," I answered. "You will find him faithful to
yourself, and a terror to your enemies, while he remains with you."
I said this for the sake of getting Ben well treated, though it was an
imprudent observation--and I was wrong in saying what was not the
truth--as the sheikh might not be willing to part with Ben again. But
for the present it answered its object; for the sheikh, bidding us all
three follow him, led the way to the entrance of his tent, to the
astonishment of his followers. Though it was considerably larger than a
gipsy tent in England, it had much the appearance of one. The cover
consisted of camel-hair cloth, supported by a couple of long poles in
the centre, the skirts being stretched out and fastened to the ground by
pegs. Heaps of sand were also piled up, as a further security to
prevent it being blown away. The ground inside was covered with a dirty
piece of carpet, while a few pots hanging to the tent-poles formed the
whole of the furniture.
The women of the tribe were most of them even more ugly than the men;
and though they were decently clothed as to quantity, their garments
were dirty in the extreme. They appeared to go about the camp as freely
as the men, who showed no anger or annoyance when we looked at them,--
which, as Ben observed, was not surprising, considering how hideous they
were. They gathered round, looking with curiosity at our white skins
and strange dresses; but, out of respect to the chief, of whom they
seemed to stand in awe, they did not further annoy us.
"Come into my tent, O Nazarenes, and we will talk this matter over more
at our ease," said the sheikh, walking inside, and making a sign to
Ben--who, from the character we had given of him, was looked upon as an
important personage--to follow. The sheikh sank down on his carpet, and
we imitated his example, endeavouring, like him, to tuck our legs under
us--Halliday and Ben on one side, and I on the other. But our attempts
were not very successful. Halliday tried two or three times in vain,
and at last stretched them out comfortably before him; while Ben, after
rolling from side to side, fairly toppled over on his nose, before he
could get his legs stowed away--greatly to the amusement of the sheikh,
in whose estimation he was thereby considerably lowered, I am afraid.
After we were settled, and the sheikh's cachinnations had ceased, he
clapped his hands; on which one black damsel brought him in his hookah,
while another appeared with a piece of charcoal to light it. He did
not, however, hand us his pipe.
"You are hungry, strangers," he next observed.
"Yes, indeed we are, and very thirsty too," said Halliday, who had not
attempted to speak till now.
"I forgot," said the sheikh; and calling to the black damsels, he
ordered them to bring us food and water. In a short time one of them
returned with a large bowl of couscoussu, a sort of porridge made of
wheat beaten into powder. We had our fingers only to eat it with.
"Set to, strangers," said the sheikh, nodding; but he took none of the
food himself.
"It is not bad stuff when a fellow is hungry," observed Halliday,
stuffing the porridge into his mouth as fast as he could lift it with
his fingers; "but it's very flavourless; I wish we had some salt to put
into it."
"So do I, for more reasons than one," I answered. "I do not quite like
the appearance of things."
"But he seems to be a pretty good-natured kind of fellow; perhaps he
does not know we like our food salted," said Halliday.
"We must take people as we find them; and I hope he has not omitted the
salt intentionally, though I suspect he has not made up his mind whether
to trust us or not," I observed.
We all did justice to the sheikh's couscoussu, however; for,
notwithstanding its want of salt, we had eaten no food so wholesome
since we were on board the Spanish ship. Another girl next brought in
an earthen jar of water, which we in a few minutes completely emptied.
"Thank you, Mr Sheikh," said Ben, after his meal; "long life to your
honour."
"What does he say?" asked our host.
"He hopes that your shadow may never grow less, and that you may live to
be a blessing to your people for as long as the patriarchs of old."
The sheikh seemed pleased, and answered,--"Your lion-hunter is a fine
fellow."
I explained that I only said he was as brave as a lion; but the sheikh
replied that his bravery must have been proved by his hunting lions--and
that he, at all events, would give him an opportunity of exhibiting his
prowess.
Ben, tired of sitting so long on his feet, now got up, and, pulling a
lock of his hair, walked out of the tent. Not supposing he would be
molested, we sat on, wishing to practise our Arabic by talking to the
sheikh, who made numerous inquiries about our country and other parts of
Europe, evidently being not altogether ignorant of what had been taking
place of late in the world. We at last also got up, to take the fresh
air outside, when he said--
"Stop, stop! young Nazarenes. You came here to show me the precious
treasures you possess; I desire you to exhibit them."
"Of course we will," I said, unslinging my telescope.
He looked at it, putting the field-glass to his eye, when he saw his own
ugly face reflected in it.
"Bismillah! it's wonderful," he cried out.
I explained that this was the wrong way to use it; and inviting him to
come to the door of the tent, I put it to my own eye to show him how it
was to be used. As I did so, turning it eastward, what was my surprise
to observe a sail standing towards the shore.
"Thank Heaven! here comes a vessel which may rescue us," I exclaimed.
"Let me look at her," said Halliday, taking the glass from me.
"Look again, Charlie," he said, returning it to me. "I am afraid that
it is only a small boat."
"You are right," I answered; "or rather, it is no boat at all, but a
raft!" Indeed, by this time we could distinguish the raft with our
naked eyes.
"What is all this about?" asked the sheikh, observing our agitation. I
gave him the glass, but he could not fix it on the object. He saw the
raft, however, without it.
"Allah be praised! yonder vessel will certainly be thrown on our shore,
and we shall obtain a rich booty," he exclaimed.