I ESCAPE FROM THE CAMP--A TERRIBLE ENCOUNTER--SELIM ARRIVED--WE CROSS
THE STREAM--A JOYFUL MEETING.
Having but a small stock of provisions and little water to carry, Selim
and I rode on one of the camels, while the guides mounted the other, and
we made the first part of our return journey more pleasantly and rather
more rapidly than we had come. We at the same time kept a good look-out
for Antonio, but not a glimpse of him could be seen, and I began to hope
that he had abandoned his design of murdering us,--if he had entertained
it,--and had gone off to try and reach his own country.
We at length arrived at the spot where Selim and I had agreed to quit
the camp and strike off for the river, which we believed to be not more
than a day's journey to the south of us. The country was wild and
barren in the extreme, here and there a few cacti and stunted shrubs
alone being visible. It would be imprudent to attempt escaping by day,
with the possibility of being followed by the guides; even should they
not follow us, they would naturally, on their arrival at the camp,
inform the Arabs of the direction we had taken. Of course, we might
have shot them, or have hamstrung the camels; but though Selim suggested
that such might be necessary, I would not for a moment entertain the
idea. If we were to escape, we must escape with clean hands and clear
consciences. I would only consent to Selim carrying off one of the
carbines, and as much ammunition as he could obtain; while I provided
myself with as many dates and as much other food as I could stow away.
We determined to commence our enterprise that very night, as soon as the
moon had risen. I believed that I should have no difficulty, by the aid
of her light, in making my way due south; and I agreed to stop at
daybreak to look out for Selim. He would follow as soon as he thought
that I had got to a sufficient distance to render it unlikely that the
guides, should they propose to accompany him, would overtake me; and
even in that case he hoped to be able to slip away from them.
We encamped as usual, when Selim and I undertook to keep the first
watch; and the guides, unsuspicious of our intentions, went to sleep.
We had intentionally kept only a small fire burning, and as soon as the
guides' eyes were closed we let it get still lower. Selim might have
made his escape with me, but then he would have been unable to obtain
one of the carbines and the ammunition, which it was essential for our
future safety we should possess,--and which, according to the Arab
fashion, the men slept with close to their hands, ready for instant use.
Having fully agreed as to our future proceedings, so that there might be
as little risk as possible of missing each other, I looked once more to
the priming of my pistol, took a draught of water (that I might require
none for some time to come), and then stole noiselessly out of the camp.
I waited for a minute to ascertain that the Arabs were really asleep,
and not watching me; then I took another survey in every direction, lest
Antonio might possibly be in the neighbourhood; but no one appearing, I
started off, running towards the south.
I had before dark carefully surveyed the ground, and ascertained that it
was perfectly level, without any impediment to stop my course. As soon
as I had got out of sight, however, I went on more leisurely. The moon
did not rise so soon as I had expected, while clouds gathering in the
sky obscured the stars, and made it more difficult to keep a direct
course. Still I hoped that I was steering to the south, and so
continued on. Now and then I stopped to listen, but no sound reached my
ears, and I was satisfied that I was not followed. On and on I went,
anxious to reach some wood or thicket in which I could conceal myself
should the guides, contrary to our expectations, accompany Selim.
Often had I found trudging over the desert with bare feet in the daytime
very painful, but at night, unable to discern the inequalities of the
ground, and the prickly plants which grew on it, I suffered far more
than I had ever done before, hardened as my feet had become by going so
long without shoes. I had hitherto reached no trees, and although I
tried to pierce the gloom I could discern no trace of the forest I
expected to meet with in the distance. The moon now rising, enabled me
better to see my way; but, though my feet pained me greatly, finding
that I was making slower progress than I had calculated on, I pushed
forward, still hoping before daybreak to reach some spot where I could
conceal myself. At length I could bear the pain no longer, and,
overcome with fatigue, a faintness seized me, and I sank down on the
ground.
How long I had continued in this state I could not tell. When I came to
myself the moon was high in the sky, occasionally obscured, however, by
the clouds which a strong wind drove across it; now her rays cast a
bright light over the desert, now all again was in comparative darkness.
I could only hope that no wild beast, prowling in search of prey, might
find me, as I could, I felt, offer but a slight resistance. With the
thought that such a thing might possibly occur, I took my pistol, which
I had carried slung to my back, and grasped it in my hand.
Again the faintness seized me, and I lay stretched out on the hard
ground. As my senses returned, my ear being close to the ground, I
fancied that I heard a footfall. Opening my eyes,--a cloud at that
moment having passed the moon, which now shone brightly forth,--I saw
approaching, a few paces off, the figure of a tall black man, with a
scimitar raised in his hand--the light of the moon revealing to me the
vindictive features of Antonio. In another moment his weapon, raised to
strike, would have descended on my neck. His attitude convinced me of
his intentions, so there was not a moment for deliberation. I was
unwilling to have his blood on my head, but had I even ventured to speak
my life would have been sacrificed. Suddenly lifting my pistol, I
fired. The shot took effect. Raising his hand to his head, and
dropping his sword, the black fell backward to the ground.
For a moment it seemed as if I had been in a fearful dream, but the
still smoking pistol in my hand convinced me of the reality of what had
occurred; so, rising, at length I staggered towards where Antonio lay.
Not a limb, not a muscle, moved, however. He had been shot through the
heart. Feeling a horror of remaining near the dead body, and knowing
also that it would certainly attract beasts of prey, I was anxious, in
spite of the pain my feet suffered, to get to a distance. Reloading my
pistol, therefore, and taking the scimitar,--which might enable me to
defend myself against savage beasts as well as human foes,--I hurried
forward as fast as my maimed feet would allow me.
At length I made out a dark mass rising above the ground, which I hoped
was the commencement of the forest bordering the river; and in a short
time I reached the trunk of a large tree, which stood out at some
distance from the others, when, unable longer to endure the pain of
walking, I sank down at its base. It was just the sort of place in
which I knew Selim would search for me. Suddenly the dreadful thought
occurred, Had Antonio first encountered him, and taken his life? Such,
I feared, was but too possible, as the savage black must have discovered
our camp after I had left it, and pursued me to the spot where,
intending to take my life, he had met his own doom. This idea caused me
much anxiety, and greatly damped the satisfaction I felt at finding
myself free. How many difficulties and dangers also yet lay before me!
Should I meet Halliday and Ben? I asked myself. If not, what would
become of us all? Could they find their way to the sea alone? Could I,
indeed, expect to do so? How deeply I regretted having been separated
from Boxall, who, with his good sense and courage, was far better
calculated than any of us to conduct to a successful issue the hazardous
undertaking proposed.
Afraid of going to sleep, lest Selim should approach or any wild beast
find me, I watched the moon sinking lower and lower, till she gradually
disappeared altogether at the break of day. As the light increased I
found myself on the borders of a forest, denser than any I had yet seen
in Africa; while to the north the wide plain over which I had passed lay
stretched out before me. I looked out anxiously for any figure which
might prove to be that of Selim. Strange birds flew overhead, and a
herd of deer went bounding by at no great distance. Had I possessed a
more efficient weapon than my clumsy pistol, I should have tried to
shoot one of the latter, in the hope of being able to manufacture shoes
or sandals out of the hide to protect my lacerated feet, which were so
swollen that I felt it would be almost torture to proceed further
without some protection for them. As soon as there was sufficient
light, however, I employed myself in picking out the thorns, with which
they were full; after which operation I felt some slight relief. I then
looked around for water in which I might cool them, but no stream or
pool was in sight--though I knew, from the appearance of the vegetation,
that water could not be far-off; and I felt sure that if I could but
drag myself to it, I should soon be able to proceed.
As the sun rose, his rays threw a bright glare across the plain, almost
roasting me where I lay. To avoid the heat, I moved round to the
western side of the tree, in the cool shade of which I stretched myself
out at my length to rest my weary limbs, and turned my anxious eyes
northward--from which direction I expected Selim would come. At length
some one appeared on the top of a small hillock in the far distance, and
stopped and looked about him. It must be Selim, I thought; and yet,
until I was certain, I did not like to show myself. I anxiously watched
the person. "Yes, it must be Selim," I exclaimed aloud. My fear was
that, not seeing me, he might go off to the east or west. I knew that
my voice could not reach him at that distance. I tried to drag myself
up by means of the trunk, so as to lean against it when I was on my
feet; but I could stand with difficulty even then. The only means I had
of drawing Selim's attention was to fire off my pistol, but I was
unwilling to throw away any of the ammunition. The person was by this
time about to descend the hillock. With great pain and difficulty I got
round the tree into the sunlight, and fired. Immediately the person
began to run towards me; when, unable longer to stand, I sank down on
the sand, fearing that after all he might be an enemy. I reloaded my
weapon, therefore, and leaned back against the tree, with the scimitar I
had taken from Antonio in my hand, determined to defend myself to the
last.
The person approached rapidly, stopping every now and then to look about
him--surprised, apparently, at not seeing any one. As he came nearer,
to my great joy I saw that it was no other than the faithful Selim. He
bounded forward as he caught sight of me, uttering exclamations of joy;
but his joy was turned to sorrow at finding me in the painful condition
to which I had been reduced.
"But still I have reason to be thankful that you are alive," he said.
"Soon after you had gone, what was my dismay to catch sight of Antonio's
shadowy form in the distance. He had apparently been watching the camp,
and must have seen you leave it; but I suspect he was waiting to
ascertain whether any person would follow you. Had I had the carbine in
my hand, I might have been tempted to fire at him; but I should thus
have awakened the guides, and your flight would have been discovered. I
went up, as it was, to the sleeping men, to try and get one of their
carbines, but found that I could not do so without arousing them; and
when I looked again, the mysterious figure had disappeared. I trembled
for your safety, but notwithstanding my anxiety I had to wait till the
time agreed on. Then, arousing the guides, I told them that I thought
you had escaped; and while they were rubbing their eyes, and trying to
understand what I had said, I got hold of one of their weapons, with a
bag of ammunition, and shouting out that I would quickly overtake you,
rushed forth from the camp. `Take care of the camels, or they will
escape,' I exclaimed as I dashed forward. They, believing that I should
soon be back, did not follow, and I was soon out of their sight.
"I was hurrying on, when I fell over the dead body of Antonio. My mind
was greatly relieved, for I was satisfied that, instead of his killing
you, you had killed him; and with revived spirits I pushed on till I
reached the sand-hill and heard the report of your pistol. We have,
however, no time to lose, for when the guides find that I do not return,
they are very likely to come in pursuit of us."