"The sooner we are away, the better, then," he said; "that sheikh is one
of the fiercest and most barbarous in this part of the country, and it
is impossible to tell how he may act towards us."
I agreed with Selim, that if such was his character his countenance
certainly did not belie him. It was then too late to move, however, so
we arranged with the two guides to stop till the following morning, when
we proposed setting out at daybreak.
Having lighted our fire, and formed our camp as usual, while the guides
lay down by the side of their camels, Selim and I sat and talked over
our plans for the future. The question to be decided was, How could we
best separate from our companions without being followed? There were
difficulties, but we hoped to overcome these. Selim was of opinion that
the safest plan would be for me to run off a couple of hours before
dawn,--when he, taking the carbine of one of the guides, would set out
as if in pursuit of me. The guides, finding that we did not return, and
the one afraid of losing the other, would proceed on their journey, and
report at the camp that we had been lost. Should Halliday and Ben, in
the meantime, have been unable to make their escape, this would prevent
suspicion being cast on them.
To this plan I agreed, provided no better should present itself.