AN UNPLEASANT CHANGE--BEN UNDERGOES A SEVERE TRIAL--THE OUADLIMS RECEIVE
AN UNWELCOME VISIT--WE ARE MADE PEACE-OFFERINGS--A CURIOUS SPECTACLE--I
MAKE FRIENDS WITH THE SHEIKH'S BROTHER ABDALAH--THE SHIPWRECKED PARTY--
DISCOVER A VALUABLE FRIEND--ANTONIO'S ESCAPE FROM THE WRECK.
We were aroused by the voice of the sheikh. "Get up, you lazy sons of
dogs!" he was exclaiming in an angry tone. "You have been deceiving me,
I find, by passing yourselves off as people of importance, when you are
mere servants of servants. Get up, I say;" and he began to enforce his
commands by kicks and blows. We sprang to our feet, and Ben, doubling
his fists, would have knocked the sheikh down had I not held him back.
"What have we done to merit this treatment, O sheikh?" I asked.
"Told lies, vile Nazarene," he answered. "Henceforward know that you
and your companions are to be slaves--should my people not prefer
putting you to death."
The sheikh was heard by the rest of the community, who now gathered
round us, delighted at being able to renew their insults,--some of them
pulling off our caps, while others tugged away at our jackets and
pinched us as before, even spitting at us in their fury. At length
Antonio stalked out of the tent, casting malignant glances at us as he
passed.
"I say, mate, you know what better manners are," exclaimed Ben. "Do try
and teach these people to treat us decently."
Antonio made no reply, but, without even turning his head, walked on.
"You are a pretty fellow," shouted Ben; "I thought you would have wished
to be civil, at least."
Remembering the black's behaviour on board the Spanish ship, however, I
felt that it would be useless to appeal to him.
Presently we saw him returning, accompanied by Sinne and several other
fellows, mostly as ill-favoured as himself. Approaching Ben, they threw
themselves upon him, and, pinioning his arms, led him off, ordering us
to follow.
"I am afraid they mean mischief," said Halliday in a melancholy voice.
"Do you think, Charlie, that they intend to murder poor Ben?"
"I hope not," I answered, though I did not feel over confident about the
matter. "I will do all I can to save him."
We followed Ben and his captors. He turned his head towards us, and, by
his look, evidently thought that his last hour had come; so indeed did
we, and very sad we felt. We walked on till we had got some hundred
yards from the camp, when we saw a sort of bench formed by boards on the
top of a sand-hill, to which Ben was conducted. Sinne and Antonio
having led Ben up to the bench, made him kneel down before it; when, to
our horror, the former drew a pistol from his belt and presented it at
the honest seaman's head.
"Fire away, you rascals," cried Ben in a loud voice, fixing his eyes on
his executioners. "I am not afraid of you!"
Every instant we expected to hear the fatal shot fired, but still Sinne
refrained from pulling the trigger. Feeling sure that if we rushed
forward to Ben's assistance it would be the signal for his death, we
stood stock-still, not daring to move. In equally fixed attitudes stood
the Arabs, evidently taking delight in our horror and anxiety. I dared
not even pull out my watch to note how the time went by, but it seemed
to me that a whole hour must have thus passed,--the Arab all the while
standing motionless, till I thought his arm must have ached with holding
the pistol. Halliday declared that he thought at least two hours must
have elapsed, when Sinne, giving a self-satisfied grunt, restored the
pistol to his belt, and stalked off towards the camp, followed by
Antonio, and leaving Ben kneeling before the bench.
Ben, on finding that they were gone, got up and gave himself a violent
shake. "I thought I was done for!" he exclaimed, with that cool air
which an habitual indifference to danger can alone inspire. "I didn't
care so much for myself; but I thought the villains would treat you in
the same way as they were going to serve me, and I was terribly sorry
for you, that I was."
We thanked Ben for his interest in us, assuring him how glad we were
that he had escaped; and not having before had an opportunity of hearing
the result of his expedition to the Arab camp, we inquired if he had
seen Boxall.
"Not a glimpse of him," he answered. "I went round and round the camp,
so if he was there he must have been inside a tent; but as a number of
people, whom I took to be slaves, were busy either pounding corn or
cleaning their beasts, I am pretty sure that if he had been carried
there he would have been among them, and I should have seen him. I
believe, Mr Blore, you were right after all; and that the Arab who got
hold of him must have gone off to another camp. All we can hope is,
that he is among better people than these black fellows here."
I hoped so likewise, though I began to fear that our chances of escape
were very small, and that we should be doomed to perpetual slavery by
our savage captors. Of course, from the first we had determined to
escape if we could; but the question was, In what direction should we
fly? The desert was terminable on the east by the Nile; on the north,
by the barbarous empire of Morocco, or by Algiers, Tripoli, or Tunis;
while to the south were hordes of savages of whom we knew nothing, with
only one insignificant French settlement where we might expect a kind
reception: and we should undoubtedly have many hundred miles of an
almost barren region to traverse, either to the east or to the north or
south, with but a bare possibility of escaping on board some vessel
which might appear off the coast, provided we could keep along the shore
and avoid recapture.
We were not allowed many minutes for conversation, for our savage
tormentors quickly gathered round us again, and seemed to take delight
in insulting and tormenting us in every way they could think of. We had
been left for some time to the tender mercies of the women and children;
the men having assembled together to hold, as we afterwards found, a
consultation regarding our disposal--their savage yells and cries
reaching our ears even above the shrill shrieks and shouts of the women.
It was evident that our captors were engaged in a hot discussion, but
not one of them, we had reason to suppose, was lifting up his voice in
our favour.
At length Sinne appeared, and ordered us to accompany him. Advancing
with rapid strides, he led us into the centre of a circle of Arabs; but
as we glanced round at their scowling countenances, we observed no sign
of kindly feeling or sympathy for our sufferings. The sheikh then
calling to me, ordered me to interpret to the rest. He said that we
were all three to be separated,--he himself intending to take me. Ben
was to fall to the lot of Sinne; while Halliday was to become the slave
of another chief man. This announcement affected us more than anything
which had occurred. Together, we thought that we could have borne our
misfortunes; but parted from each other, we felt they would be
insupportable.
"You are all young and active, and can each do more work than any three
women," he observed; "let me see that you are not idle, or you will
repent it. And you shall begin at once."
On this some heavy mallets or pestles were put into our hands, and we
were ordered to pound some corn in wooden mortars, which were brought
out and placed before us, while our new masters looked on to see that we
laboured with all our strength. Ben grumbled and growled, the only way
in which he could express his feelings; but seeing Halliday and me
working, he thought it prudent to obey.
I may say here that we had from the first observed that the people were
in a somewhat uneasy state of mind, as if aware that an enemy was in the
neighbourhood. No fires had been lighted. The tents had been pitched
close to the shore, so that they and the camels were hidden, by the
first line of sand-hills rising above them, from any one passing on the
opposite side; while men on foot were sent out as scouts at night, to
watch far and wide round the camp.
After we had finished our task we were told that we might go down to the
beach and obtain shell-fish for our own supper. Our fare was not much
better than we had before been able to obtain for ourselves; for, no
fires being allowed, we were unable to cook our shell-fish--and only a
small portion of porridge was given us, while we were compelled to drink
the brackish water which we procured from a well dug in the sand some
way off.
Darkness at length coming on, we were permitted to lie down, worn out
with fatigue, outside the chiefs tent, thankful that we were not as yet
separated from each other. The women and children, however, would not
for some time allow us to go sleep; but again coming round us, joined
this time by some of the younger men, amused themselves in jeering at
and taunting us. But at length they retired, and we fell asleep.
Dawn had just broken, when we were aroused by the voices of the people
in the camp; and on looking out, we saw a number of the scouts hurrying
in, with alarm on their countenances. We were not kept long in doubt as
to the cause of their agitation; for on glancing to the eastward we saw,
coming over the hills of sand, several bands of Bedouins mounted on
camels, their arms glittering brightly in the rays of the rising sun.
On they advanced at full gallop, till they got within gun-shot of our
camp, when they suddenly pulled up. The camels then slowly kneeling
down, their masters dismounted, and secured fetters to their legs, to
prevent them from going away. Two Arabs were mounted on each camel: the
first seated on a small side-saddle, something in the style of a lady's;
and the second as a man sits on horseback. We counted nearly twenty
different bands, each composed of twelve men, who took up their stations
one after the other. Whether they came as friends or foes, was at first
difficult for us to determine; but, from the state of agitation and
alarm into which the Ouadlims were thrown, it was soon clear that they
regarded the strangers in no friendly light. To escape, however, was
impossible, as they were greatly outnumbered by the new arrivals; who
were also better armed, and under superior discipline, than the savage
tribe into whose hands we had fallen. As we stood watching them, we saw
in the far distance numerous other camels, as well as horses, and
apparently sheep and goats, approaching.
The Bedouin sheikh and several other principal men now advanced, being
well protected by the firelocks of their men, who stood in front of the
camels. The black sheikh, Boo Bucker, being summoned, then advanced to
meet them, with Sinne and other heads of families, cutting a very sorry
appearance in the presence of the superior tribe. They had a long
discussion, after which the whole party came to the top of the hill,
where they could view the coast. No one hindering us, we drew near
them; when, from the remarks made, I found they had supposed that a
shipwreck had taken place, and their object was to participate in the
plunder, or rather, to take it away from the Ouadlims should they have
got possession of it--just as the frigate-bird seizes the prey which the
smaller wild-fowl has obtained.
The new-comers appeared to be somewhat angry at being disappointed in
their hope of obtaining a rich booty, and from the talking and wrangling
which took place we thought they would have come to blows with our
captors. The latter endeavoured to pacify them, however, and I gathered
from what I heard that we were to be delivered up as a peace-offering.
This to us mattered very little; indeed, we hoped that our condition
would be improved by falling into the hands of a less barbarous tribe
than those who had first taken possession of us. Still, it was not
pleasant to find ourselves handed over, like so many sheep or oxen, by
one party of savages to another.
Boo Bucker then coming up, seized me by the arm and dragged me forward
to the strange sheikh; while another chief led Halliday. Sinne was
about to seize hold of Ben; who, however, drew back, exclaiming,--"Come,
come, old fellow, you are not going to touch me; I am going where my
officers go, so don't you be afraid. And to show you that I don't
harbour ill-will, here's my fist;" and he seized the Arab's hand and
wrung it till the fellow cried out, and seemed glad to let him go. Ben
soon came up to us, laughing and slapping his legs to exhibit his
pleasure at the trick he had played the ill-favoured savage.
Still the Bedouins did not appear satisfied, and more wrangling took
place. At length Boo Bucker and his companions retired to their camp,
and in a short time reappeared, dragging forward Antonio, who seemed
very unwilling to accompany them. Notwithstanding the resistance he
made, however, he was brought up to the Bedouin chief, who placed his
hand on his shoulder and claimed him as his slave. Antonio was at first
furiously indignant at being so treated by his treacherous friends, but
seeing that there was no help for it, he yielded to circumstances.
"I say, Charlie, it won't do to let these black fellows keep up our
jackets and caps!" exclaimed Halliday. "Cannot you ask our new masters
to get them back for us?"
"I will do my best, at all events," I answered; and turning to one of
the Arabs who surrounded us, I inquired the name of their chief. The
Arab seemed very much surprised at being addressed in his own language,
and answered,--"Sheikh Hamed ben Kaid."
I thanked him in due form for the information he had given me; then
stepping up to the sheikh, I made him a profound salaam, and addressing
him by name, told him that we had been deprived of our garments, and
begged that he would recover them. He at once turned to Boo Bucker, and
upbraiding him for keeping back what ought to have been his, ordered him
at once to bring the jackets and caps. The Ouadlim chief looked very
much annoyed, as he had evidently expected to retain the articles; but a
few menacing words made him hasten away, and return in a short time with
the things, as well as my spy-glass,--all of which we expected would be
restored to us. Such, however, we found to be very far from Sheikh
Hamed's intention. He inquired if any other articles had been taken
from us; and on my replying that everything had been given back, he
ordered Boo Bucker to move with his people to the northward, as it was
his intention to camp in the neighbourhood. On this the two parties
separated; and we were not sorry to see the last, as we hoped, of our
former masters.
Sheikh Hamed now mounted his camel, and ordering us to follow, moved on
to the southward--to look out for a spot suitable for encamping, as we
supposed. We marched on as directed; but Antonio, who showed an evident
inclination to be refractory, was handed over to the keeping of some of
Sheikh Hamed's followers. In a short time we reached a spot not far
from the shore, which appeared to satisfy the requirements of the chief;
and sticking his spear into the ground, he called a halt, when the
various bands as they came up reined in their camels--the animals
kneeling down as before, that their riders might dismount.
I looked out eagerly in the hope of seeing Boxall, but could nowhere
discover him. I inquired of one of the people, who seemed inclined to
be communicative, if a white man had been taken prisoner and brought to
the camp. His answer fully satisfied me that the Arab who had carried
off our friend must have belonged to some other tribe.
On the arrival of the baggage camels we were ordered to assist in
unloading them and erecting the tents, and many a curse and blow we
received for our want of skill in performing the operation. We took
notice, however, of the mode in which everything was done, so that
another time we should know how to proceed. The tents were quickly set
up, much in the fashion of those of the Ouadlims,--though these were
larger, and that of the sheikh had a somewhat better and cleaner carpet
than the dirty cloth which covered the floor of Boo Bucker's tent.
Having performed this duty, we were next ordered to assist in digging
wells. Fortunately, we had retained our wooden swords. At first, the
Arabs looked at them with contempt; but when they saw how we used them
to dig up the sand, they treated them with more respect, and inquired if
we could manufacture some for them. I replied that if we could find a
cask on the sea-shore we could easily do so, but without the proper wood
we could not gratify their wishes.
"Then look out and find a cask speedily," said the Arab who was
superintending the operation.
The wells being dug, we had to bail out the water in wooden bowls, and
carry it to the different animals. Fuel was then collected, and a line
of fires kindled in order to drive away the mosquitoes and other
insects, which appeared to torment the animals even as much as they did
us. We were then ordered to assist the black slaves in cleaning the
oxen and cows; which operation was managed in a curious way. The
animals being seized by the horns, were thrown down on the sand, where
they lay perfectly quiet, while the blacks with great dexterity cleansed
their bodies from the insects. After this, they were washed with water
from the sea. The cows were then milked.
These various processes employed the greater number in the camp till
near midnight. We were then allowed to lie down inside one of the
tents, already crowded with Arabs and blacks. Some sheep-skins were
thrown to us for coverings; and though we did not require them for
warmth--the heat was almost insupportable--they were a slight protection
from the attacks of the mosquitoes which swarmed around us, and for long
hours, it seemed, prevented us from falling asleep, weary as we were.
The next morning we were aroused at daybreak by several kicks from the
foot of an Arab, who ordered us to go down to the shore and collect
shell-fish--furnishing us with a basket for the purpose. Our taskmaster
followed us, to see that we laboured diligently; and I observed that he
and the other Arabs took great care not to wet their feet in the salt
water. Believing that they would thus become defiled, when they were
compelled to do so they invariably washed them afterwards in fresh
water.
While we were thus employed in the grey dawn, the sheikh issued from his
tent, and mounting the summit of the nearest sand-hill, shouted,--"Allah
akbar!" (God is great!) At this summons the whole male population of
the camp assembled in lines behind him, turning their faces eastward in
the direction of Mecca; and as the sun rose above the horizon, they
knelt down, and throwing sand over their bodies, bowed their heads to
the ground, while they offered up their prayers, repeating,--"There is
one God, and Mohammed is his prophet." The women at the same time came
to the front of their tents, where they performed a similar ceremony.
We stood at a distance, struck by the solemnity of the scene.
"Well, after all, these appear to be decent fellows," observed Ben. "I
only hope they will treat us in a proper manner."
But alas for Ben's good opinion of them! No sooner were their prayers
over than the Arabs, with kicks and cuffs, set the slaves to work; while
we had to return to the sea-shore to collect more shell-fish. We were
thus employed for the greater part of the day, and could with difficulty
obtain a little porridge, or get leave to cook our shell-fish at any of
the fires.
Several days passed in a similar manner. We frequently met Antonio,--as
I will still call him, though he had another name among the Arabs,--and
he never failed to cast a look of anger at us, as if he supposed we had
been the cause of his captivity. At length, every root and blade of
grass in the neighbourhood being consumed, the sheikh gave the order to
prepare for marching. The baggage camels were brought up, the tents
struck, the animals loaded (we assisting), and every preparation quickly
made. We had hoped to be allowed camels to ride on, but the sheikh
ordering us to proceed on foot, we had no help for it but to obey.
On we trudged all day, under a burning sun, sinking up to our ankles in
the soft sand. Ben did his best to keep up our spirits, talking away,
and even singing; though neither Halliday nor I were able to join him.
When we arrived at night, we had to assist in pitching the tents and
grinding corn; while frequently we were sent to a distance in charge of
flocks of goats. On such occasions, however, we were always separated
from each other, and carefully watched, so that we could not attempt to
make our escape.
The tribe, as it moved along through the desert, had the appearance of a
large army. There were, to begin with, between eight and nine hundred
camels, nearly two hundred of which belonged to the chief; and there
were fully two thousand sheep, and nearly as many goats. There were
also twenty or thirty horses, with a few jackasses; and numerous dogs,
chiefly of the greyhound and bloodhound breed, which were used for the
purpose of killing hares, foxes, and wolves. Each family possessed a
tent, which, with their provisions, water, and effects, was carried by
the male camels, while the young and the milch camels were not loaded.
When we moved on, the sheep and goats of each family moved in separate
droves--the animals keeping close together, and following their
respective shepherds; but when we encamped or met with vegetation, they
were allowed to spread over the country. They were again quickly
collected by the shepherd's whistle, or, if at a distance, by the sound
of his horn. However far-off they might be, the instant they heard the
horn in they all flocked; having been taught to do so from their
earliest days at the appearance of a wild beast, when their instinct
showed them that it was the surest way of escaping from danger. On
encamping at night, the camels and flocks belonging to each family took
up their proper position in front of the respective tents, near the
fires which were immediately kindled for cooking. On several occasions,
when we were in what was considered a dangerous neighbourhood, either on
account of hostile tribes or wild beasts, the tents were pitched in a
large circle, the camels, flocks, and herds being placed in the centre.
On such occasions the male camels and horses were kept saddled, while
the men lay down by their sides, ready to start up at a moment's notice.
The sheep and goats are much larger than any I have seen in England,
with long legs and thin bodies; and when sufficiently fed they can keep
up with the camels on a journey, and can run as fast as a greyhound. It
is extraordinary, too, how long camels can go without food and water,
and on what scanty herbage they manage to subsist.
From being able to talk to the people, Halliday and I had much softened
their feelings towards us; and I determined to try what I could do to
win the regard of the sheikh. He had a brother, Abdalah by name, a
fine-looking young man, who thought a good deal of himself. Making him
a profound salaam as he was passing one day, I said: "May your shadow
never be less. O brother of the great sheikh, I have heard of your
valour and prowess, and I doubt not that your generosity equals it! You
see before you two young chiefs, who may some day become great water
sheikhs, in command of many thousands of men; and knowing this, I trust
you will not allow them longer to endure the pain and suffering they
have gone through for many days."
"Bismillah! is what you speak the truth?" exclaimed Abdalah.
"Your servant would not condescend to speak a lie. Among our people it
is looked upon as a disgraceful act," I answered.
Abdalah did not seem quite to understand this; but my bold address had
some effect upon him, and he promised to make a request to the sheikh
that we might be permitted to ride on camels when we had long journeys
to take. Halliday and I thanked him; and I asked him if he had ever
looked through my telescope, of which his brother had possession. He
had not done so; and having described its wonders, I promised to show
him how to use it the next day.
After we had performed our morning tasks, the sheikh pointed out two
camels, with saddles on their backs, and told us that we might mount
them. I then asked if Ben might have the same privilege.
"No, no," he answered. "You might take it into your heads to try and
gallop off; and though you would not escape, it would give us the
trouble of going after you."
As we rode along that day, I found that we were once more verging
towards the sea-shore. While we were moving onwards, Abdalah came up
with my spy-glass hung over his shoulder, and said that he wished me to
show him its use. We soon afterwards--being a considerable distance
ahead of the caravan--came to a halt, when, dismounting, I pulled the
telescope out and put it to my eye. What was my surprise to see, in the
far distance, a white spot on the beach, which on more minute
examination I discovered to be a tent made of a ship's sails! Instead
of letting Abdalah see it, I turned the glass towards some distant
camels, which appeared mere specks rising out of the sandy desert.
Abdalah's astonishment on seeing them, as it were, on a sudden brought
within reach, was much greater than mine had been on catching sight of
the tent.
After he had amused himself for some time, I informed him that I
believed we should find some white men encamped at a distance of less
than an hour's journey, and entreated him to be merciful to them. "That
will be as the sheikh thinks fit," he answered evasively.
We were now anxious to hurry on, in order to ascertain who the people
were; so, mounting our camels, we started off. I was considerably
raised in the opinion of the sheikh and Abdalah when they found my
prediction true. Dismounting from their camels, Halliday and I
following them, they made their way towards the tent. As they drew
aside a loose portion, a sad scene met the view. In the interior were a
number of persons apparently in the last stage of starvation, whose
haggard countenances, long hair and beards, and scanty clothing, showed
the hardships they had endured. One of them coming forward, threw
himself on his knees, imploring the chief in piteous accents to have
compassion on him and his companions.
"Who are you?" asked the sheikh; but the man made no reply.
Halliday and I then stepped forward and looked on. I thought I
recognised several of them, and at length was convinced that they were
some of the people we had seen on board the Spanish ship. I then asked
them if this was the case.
"Yes," answered the poor man on his knees. "We escaped in one of the
boats, and after enduring many hardships were thrown on this
inhospitable shore,--several of our people being drowned at the same
time."
I told the sheikh of the sufferings they had endured, hoping to excite
his compassion; but he seemed unmoved thereat, though he allowed Abdalah
to show us a spot where, by digging, we could obtain some fresh water.
The eagerness with which they took it when we carried it to them proved
the amount of their thirst; indeed, I believe that all of them would
have died in a few hours had we not arrived to their rescue, as they had
long exhausted the small stock of water they had brought on shore, and
had no idea that, by exerting themselves, they could have obtained a
supply close at hand.
Among others I recognised the black boy, our young friend Selim, or
Pedro as he was called on board. He at once came forward, expressing
his pleasure at seeing us; for, believing that we had been left on board
the burning ship, he supposed that we had perished. He had before shown
so friendly a feeling towards us that we also were glad to meet him,
especially as he did not appear to dread his future lot.
"I am at home everywhere, and I shall not find the Arabs worse masters
than others with whiter skins," he said, shrugging his shoulders.
He and Ben--to whom he had been very attentive on board--at once became
fast friends; indeed, he was the only person besides ourselves with whom
poor Ben could converse. When the boy caught sight of Antonio, however,
he looked anything but delighted. "What, he not drowned!" he exclaimed.
"He too bad for that. Well, take care. He do some of us a mischief if
he can."
Having myself formed a similar opinion of the big negro, I was not
surprised to hear Selim say this of his countryman; and it was very
clear that we must be on our guard against Antonio, who had already
exhibited his ill-will towards us. At present our attention was taken
up with the castaways, who were, we felt, still more unfortunate than
ourselves.