THE RAFT UPSET--WE DISCOVER A CANOE--A FIGHT FOR LIBERTY--RECAPTURED--
THE BLACK WOMAN'S KINDNESS--THE BLACK SHEIKH BETTER THAN HE LOOKS--
SHEIKH HAMED'S ANGER--A FRIGHTFUL DOOM--RESCUED.
We did not spend much time in relating our adventures--knowing that we
should have opportunities enough by-and-by of spinning as many yarns
about them as we might.
Boxall approved of our plan of trying to find a canoe; or if not, of
building a raft on which we might float down the stream until we could
fall in with one; so we accordingly made our way at once to the bank of
the river. It was not so broad as we expected to find it, yet the
volume of water was sufficient to make us suppose that it flowed on in
an uninterrupted course to the ocean. Of the character of the natives
we knew nothing; indeed, we believed that no European had ever explored
that part of the country. Selim alone could give us any information.
His idea was that the people were among the most barbarous of any to be
found on the borders of the Sahara. This was not satisfactory, but we
could only hope that we might escape them.
"At all events," observed Ben, "I have a notion that four Englishmen
with a carbine, a large pistol, and a Turkish cutlass, backed by an
honest black fellow with his bow and arrows, are a match for any number
of savages; so if they come we must give them a thrashing--and that's
what I've got to say about the matter."
Though not quite so confident as Ben, we hoped that we should be able to
keep at bay any enemies who might attack us.
The bank of the river was thickly wooded, and we made but slow progress.
Despairing at last of finding a canoe, we determined to build a raft.
Reaching a part of the bank where a few feet of open ground gave us
space to work, we commenced operations. My cutlass was invaluable, as
it enabled us to cut down a number of young palms, the wood of which was
soft and light. There were also plenty of creepers, which served
instead of ropes for binding the logs together. We first placed a row
of young trees side by side, and then secured another row at right
angles upon them. By evening our raft was complete. We also provided
ourselves with long poles, which would enable us to guide it in shallow
water or keep it off overhanging trees; and, in addition, we formed five
rough paddles--one being larger than the rest, for steering. We
intended also to form a triangle, between which we could spread our
shirts to serve as a sail should the wind be fair. Well satisfied with
our day's performance, we launched our raft, which had been built close
to the water, and secured it to the bank. It floated us all well; and
as it was likely to afford a more secure resting-place than the shore,
we lay down on it to sleep--two of us at a time keeping watch, lest any
wild beast might, attack us. But although lions were heard roaring all
night long, and other strange sounds came out of the forest, we slept
securely on our floating bed.
At daybreak, and in good spirits, we commenced our adventurous voyage.
At first we floated tranquilly down the stream, having only occasionally
to use our paddles to keep the raft off from the trunks of sunken
trees--called snags, in America--which appeared above the water. In a
short time, however, the current became more rapid, and we found, by the
way the water leaped about, that we were being carried over a shallow
part of the river. Our poles, too, showed that the depth was not above
three or four feet. Presently the water became more shallow and more
agitated, and we thought it wise to make for the bank. We were steering
towards it, when the raft, striking an unseen rock, was whirled rapidly
round and round: the water rushed over it, and we ourselves were swept
off; while the raft, freed from our weight, was carried downwards, and
quickly dashed to pieces among a number of rocks, over which the water
furiously rushed, not a hundred yards below us. Happily we were all
good swimmers, and we managed to reach shallow water and climb up the
bank.
"What has become of our weapons?" was the first question we asked.
They, with my Moorish sword, had been placed in the centre of the raft,
and so had been lost. We had cause to be thankful however, for having
escaped with our lives.
Undaunted by the accident, we determined to persevere, and to try and
find a canoe in which to prosecute our voyage. Ben had saved one of the
long poles, which, after sharpening at the end, would serve as a
weapon--the only one we now possessed. Selim offered to supply us with
bows and arrows, which might serve to kill birds for our meals. He
showed himself one of the most active of the party, too, and as he went
on ahead he looked into every little bay or hollow in which a canoe was
likely to be concealed.
At length we caught sight of some low, conical-shaped, thatched huts in
the distance, and Selim said he was sure he could find a canoe not far
off from thence. The only doubt was whether he should take it without
asking the owner's leave, or try to obtain the loan of it: but then we
had absolutely nothing to offer in return; and the natives might not
only refuse to give it us, but might make us prisoners--and perhaps
carry us back to the Arabs from whom we were escaping, or sell us to
some other tribe.
"Beggars must not be choosers," said Ben. "To my mind, if we can find a
canoe, we have a right to her, considering that we have been kept in
slavery, and worked pretty hard too, by the friends of these people."
Certainly, I would rather have bought the canoe; but as that was out of
the question, I could not help agreeing with Ben.
We had not gone far, when we came to a path evidently made by human
feet. "This probably leads to some plantation, or to another village,
through the forest," observed Boxall. "We must proceed cautiously, so
as not to come suddenly upon the natives."
Selim offered to go on first and explore the way.
In a short time he came running back. "I have discovered a canoe afloat
and secured to the bank," he said. "She has paddles in her, so the
owners cannot be far-off. We are indeed, fortunate, and must not lose
the opportunity of escaping, as we are not likely again to meet so good
a one."
We hurried on. There lay the canoe, as Selim had described; she was
large enough to hold us all--indeed, large enough to navigate the river
to its mouth. Without further consideration we stepped into her, and
seizing the paddles, cast off the painter, and shoved out into the
stream. We did not feel quite as happy as we might have done had we
been able to obtain her by lawful purchase from the owners. They would
naturally be enraged on discovering that we had run off with their
property, and if they could obtain the means, would, of course, follow
us; we hoped, however, by paddling on, to get well ahead before being
discovered. We should be in most danger when passing the village we had
seen on the bank some way down the stream.
Boxall told Selim to take the helm--as his black face might make the
natives suppose that we were a party of white slaves sent down the river
by our owner--while we four paddled with might and main. As we neared
the village we plied our paddles harder than ever. Just as we got
abreast of it, we saw a native in the front of one of the huts.
Discovering us, he shouted to some others, who rushed out of their huts
and followed him down to the river. We did not stop to ascertain what
they were about to do, but paddled on. We had not got far, however,
before we saw a canoe being launched from the bank. We might easily
have distanced her, and were expecting to do so, when there appeared two
more canoes some way ahead of us, putting off from the shore, evidently
with the intention of intercepting us. Our only hope now was that we
could fight our way past them. Had we possessed our firearms, or even
Antonio's scimitar, this we might have done without much danger; but
with only our paddles and Ben's long pole for weapons of defence, we
should run, we knew, a great risk of losing our lives: still the attempt
must be made.
We paddled on boldly, shouting at the top of our voices, in the hope of
intimidating our enemies. Those in one of the canoes seemed doubtful
about attacking us, but the others came boldly on, sending, as they got
near, a flight of arrows towards us. Selim shouted to them, telling
them to keep off, and saying that we only wished to be allowed to pass
in peace. To this they paid no attention, however, but, uttering loud
cries in reply to our shouts, came dashing towards us. Ben, who had got
his long pole ready, sprang up, and plunged it with such force that it
ran through the body of one of the savages, who was dragged overboard.
The others, alarmed by the death of their companion, paddled to a
distance, and assailed us with fresh flights of arrows. Happily, they
were not well aimed, and none of us were struck.
We now began to hope that we should escape, though, as we paddled on, we
were hotly pursued by two canoes. We were, however, distancing them,
when we found that the river made a sharp bend, and ran back close to
the village we had at first seen. At the same time we caught sight of
four or five large canoes putting off from the shore, evidently for the
purpose of intercepting us. In vain we attempted to escape; the canoes
completely surrounded us, and unless we had resolved, rather than yield,
to sacrifice our lives, resistance would have been useless. We merely,
therefore, warded off with our paddles the blows aimed at our heads,
while we cried out to the people that we were ready to give in if they
would desist from striking. Before they understood us, however, we had
received several cuts and bruises, and in a pitiable condition were
conducted on shore.
On landing we were placed in an open space on the ground, with guards
over us; while the more influential persons seated themselves under a
widespreading baobab-tree, and discussed what was to be done with us.
Though we could not hear clearly what was said, from their gestures we
fully believed they contemplated putting us to death.
"We might as well have made a stouter fight for our liberty," observed
Ben, who seemed to be sorry that we had yielded so easily.
"If they believe that they can make anything by us, they will not kill
us," said Boxall. "We may still, I hope, escape death."
Anxiously we watched the gestures of the assembly. They were
savage-looking fellows enough, but yet it soon became evident that some
were for mild measures; and Selim, who understood better than we did
what they were saying, caught a few words, and told us that they were
waiting the arrival of some one, who had been sent for, and who was to
decide our fate.
Some hours passed, during which we were kept without food, and exposed
to the burning rays of the sun. At length there was a movement among
our captors, and we caught sight of several horsemen coming through the
forest, with a person, who was evidently a chief of importance, at their
head. As he approached, we recognised the black, ill-looking sheikh to
whose camp we had conducted the veiled lady. My heart, I confess, sunk
within me, for I expected very little mercy at his hands. Without
dismounting, he listened to the account the chiefs of the village gave
of our capture. When they had finished, I thought it was time for me to
speak, and I knew that by so doing I could not make our case worse; I
therefore addressed him in Arabic, which, at our former interview, I
found that he understood. I reminded him that I had conducted his
daughter and her family, placed under my charge, in safety to him; and
that, having faithfully performed my duty, I felt that I had a right to
escape from slavery, and to try and get back to my own country; that on
my way I had fallen in with my present companions, and that when we were
captured we were only doing what he and any of his people would, under
similar circumstances, have attempted.
He seemed more moved by my address than I had expected. "What you say
is true, O Nazarene," he answered; "but those from whom you have escaped
are my friends, and they will demand you at my hands. You know the
penalty you have incurred by attempting to escape, and you must be
prepared to pay it."
I felt it would be of no use pleading for mercy with the savage, or I
would have entreated him to set us at liberty, and to allow us to
continue our voyage down the river. I had frequently heard, too, of the
fearful cruelties which were practised on slaves who attempted to escape
from their Arab masters, so I could not help thinking of those we should
be doomed to suffer were we to be delivered up to Sheikh Hamed.
The black sheikh now held a short consultation with the chiefs of the
place and with those who accompanied him, and finally decided that we
were to be carried next day to his camp. We were, in the meantime,
thrust into a small hut, there to remain till the following morning,
when we were to set out. Of course, we could not help being greatly
cast down by the turn affairs had taken; Boxall, however, did his best
to keep up our spirits, and urged us to look above for that strength and
courage which we required in our time of need. "Our lives have been
preserved when we expected to have lost them. Let us hope that even now
some means of escape may be found," he observed.
"I wonder whether the savages think we can live without eating," said
Halliday. "I wish they would bring us some food."
Not many minutes after this the door opened, and a black woman appeared,
carrying a couple of baskets containing a bowl of couscoussu, a calabash
of water, and some fruit. Though her countenance was shrivelled, it
beamed with kindness.
"I heard that there were white men starving, and in captivity, and I
hastened from my home down the river to bring food to them," she said.
"Here it is. Eat, strangers, and may your strength be restored."
We thanked her for her charity.
"I myself have reason to be thankful to white men," she answered. "When
I was young, and just married, our village was attacked by a party of
Moors, when my husband and I were carried down to the coast, to be
conveyed across the wide ocean to slavery in a distant land. While
waiting to embark, the kind governor of the place purchased us, kept us
in his house, and fed and clothed us; and at last, when the country was
at peace, he sent us back to our own home. There we continued to live,
and my husband is now a rich man. Our great pleasure since then has
been to help those white men who have been made slaves by the Arabs, or
who are otherwise in distress."
As she said this, the hope arose in me that she might possibly help us
to escape. I asked her without hesitation if she could do so. She
shook her head. At last she answered:--
"My husband is now old, and has no influence with the people of this
place. They respect me, so they allow me to bring this food to you, but
my power extends no further; still, I will do what I can. I must not
now delay, or I may be accused of endeavouring to assist you to escape."
Of course, after hearing this we could not detain the kind negress; and
wishing us good-bye, she took her departure, while we set to at the
welcome food she had brought us.
"We have indeed reason to be thankful for this unexpected assistance,"
observed Boxall. "He who put it into the heart of this kind negress to
bring us this food, will find us the means of escape."
With our spirits somewhat raised by this event, we stretched our weary
limbs on the hard ground, and were all soon asleep.
We were awakened at daybreak by one of our guides, who told us that we
must immediately set out on our journey. We had barely time allowed us
to eat the remainder of the provisions the good negress had brought us,
and were compelled to abandon any hope we had entertained of escaping by
her assistance.
We had now to march with guards on either side, and our hands tied, two
and two: Boxall and I, Halliday and Ben, with Selim bringing up the
rear. The journey was a fatiguing one, for after we had left the belt
of forest which bordered the river we had a wide expanse of open
country, where we were exposed to the rays of the hot sun. It was not
desert, however; for numerous plantations covered it.
At length we reached another woody district on the very borders of the
Sahara, where the chief had pitched his camp. He had preceded us, we
found; for on our arrival he appeared at the door of his tent, and
called me up to him.
"I have saved your life and that of your companions," he said; "but as
you were attempting to escape from bondage, I am bound to deliver you up
to Sheikh Hamed Aben Kaid, who will treat you as he thinks fit. All I
can do is to report favourably of the way in which you conducted
yourself towards my daughter and her children, and this may tell in your
favour; but I warn you that a severe punishment awaits those who attempt
to fly from their masters. You will set out to-morrow morning. And
take my advice: as soon as you arrive you must express your desire to
become faithful followers of the Prophet, and all will be well; if not,
you may expect no mercy."
I thanked the black sheikh for the kindly feeling which prompted his
advice, but did not say whether I intended to take it. I felt very sure
that my companions would suffer anything rather than turn Mohammedans,
and I hoped that even the fear of death would not make me do so.
For the remainder of the day we were placed in a tent by ourselves, and
were amply supplied with food. As soon as we were alone, I told my
friends what the black sheikh had said. Their answers were as I
expected; and we all agreed to support each other in the resolution we
had formed to be firm to our faith.
Next morning we set out at daybreak on our dreary journey, escorted by a
party of black troops on foot, with a few camels to carry provisions.
We kept the road I had come, turning neither to the right nor to the
left. Nothing occurred to us during the march worth narrating; we were
not ill-treated, and were sufficiently supplied with food, our guards
wishing to bring us back in good condition. We had got within about a
day's journey of the camp, when we saw a party of Arabs approaching,
mounted on camels, and as our guards did not appear alarmed we knew that
they must be friends. As they drew nearer I recognised Sheikh Hamed at
their head; and as he saw us a frown gathered on his brow, and he
inquired of the leader of our guards how we had been taken. On being
told what had happened, his anger increased, his own people gathering
round him and crying out that we deserved nothing but death. While he
and they were discussing the matter, one of the marabouts, who had taken
part in the discussion I once had with the sheikh on religious subjects,
proposed that we should be forgiven, provided we would acknowledge
Mohammed as the Prophet of God, and conform in all other respects to the
true religion, as he called it. As the question was not formally put to
us, we had no reason to reply, and therefore stood silent while the
discussion was going forward. As soon as it was over, the marabout came
to us and inquired whether we were willing to conform to the faith of
the Prophet, promising that if we did so our lives would be spared. We
answered boldly, and at once, that we would not be hypocrites, and that
we had resolved to abide by the religion in which we had been brought
up.
Our determined answer greatly enraged the marabout, who had expected to
make easy converts of us. "Then you must be prepared for the fate you
have brought upon yourselves," he answered.
As evening was approaching, both parties encamped; and we were left
during the night in doubt as to what our punishment would be.
Ben was as firm as any of us. "A pretty sort of prophet Mohammed must
have been, if he could not teach his followers to behave themselves
better than they do," he exclaimed. "I cannot say but what they bow and
pray enough, and go through all sorts of curious forms, but to my mind
it's all outside show; and if their religion don't teach people to be
kind and merciful, and to do to others as they would others should do to
them, it's not worth a bit of rotten rope yarn."
Selim, who had hitherto professed to be a follower of Mohammed,
declared, after hearing our conversation, that he was ready to
acknowledge himself a Christian, and to die with us if we were to be put
to death. Boxall thereupon spoke very earnestly to him, as he had done
to us, and urged him to adhere to his resolution. "It is far better to
die than to live a hypocrite, or to acknowledge that Mohammed was a true
prophet of God, when we know that he was an emissary of Satan sent to
deceive the world," he observed.
Next morning, after the Arabs and blacks had gone through their usual
ceremonies, we were brought out, with our arms bound to our sides.
The marabout had, in the meantime, been among the people, endeavouring
to excite them against us, and they now gathered round from every side
with savage gestures, hurling bitter curses at our heads, calling us
vile Christians, despisers of the true Prophet, Nazarene dogs, accursed
infidels, children of Satan, and similar names, till they had exhausted
their vocabulary of abuse.
The two sheikhs and the other chiefs now appeared on the field, and were
received with loud acclamations. "Allah, Allah! God is great, and
Mohammed is his Prophet!" shouted the crowd surrounding us, while their
countenances exhibited their hostile feelings.
Terrible was the doom preparing for us; whatever might have been the
wishes of Sheikh Hamed and the black chief, the voices of the marabouts
and the people prevailed. We were doomed to a fate scarcely less
terrible than that of Tantalus. We were condemned to be buried alive,
with our heads above the sand,--water and food being placed just beyond
our reach, so that we might see the means of saving life and yet be
unable to profit thereby. Certainly, I think, the vivid imaginations of
the old heathens could not have invented a more horrible punishment.
Again the marabouts came to us, and asked whether we would become
faithful followers of the Prophet; promising to receive us as brothers,
and to raise us to rank and honour in their tribe, if we would do so,
and pointing out the dreadful fate which would be ours if we refused.
But we all remained firm, declaring that we could not embrace a religion
in which we did not believe.
Selim, influenced by our example, shouted out,--"I once professed to be
a follower of your false prophet, and I am sorry for it. I don't
believe in him, or the Koran, or in the wrong and foolish things it
teaches. You may kill me, along with these white men; I would rather
die with them than live with such wretches as you are." The marabouts,
as he spoke, rushed forward and struck him, and tried to drown his words
by their shouts and execrations. Boxall, Halliday, and I, seeing no
advantage in irritating the fanatical feelings of our captors, had said
nothing, except that we would not turn Mohammedans; but Ben shouted out,
in the best Arabic he could command,--"I believe in one God; but I know
very well that Mohammed was not one of His prophets; and only blind,
ignorant fools such as you are would believe in him or the stupid book
he wrote. You may bury me, or do what you like; but as long as I have
got a tongue above ground to wag, I will not knock off speaking the
truth.--I say, Mr Blore, I don't think they quite make out what I mean.
You just tell them, please; and give them a bit of your own mind too."
Fortunately for Ben, only the first words of his speech were
comprehended, and many of the people fancied that he was ready to turn
Mohammedan; so that, instead of attacking him, many of them demanded
that he should be set free and allowed to do as he wished. Indeed, by
his good-humour, and readiness to help any one who wanted assistance, he
had become a general favourite in the camp. The marabouts, however,
suspecting, from his tone of voice, that he was not very complimentary
to them or their religion, answered that he must be left to share our
fate. They were also greatly enraged against Selim, and decided that he
(in consequence of his perversion from the true faith) and Boxall (as
the eldest of the party) should be the first to suffer.
In the meantime, preparations were being made for our punishment; spades
had been brought, and two holes dug in the sand about six feet apart.
While we lay bound on the ground, the marabouts again came forward, and
asked Boxall if he would turn Mohammedan; reminding him that he would be
the cause of our death, and that of the young black, if he refused, as
we should all undoubtedly follow. It was very clear that they would
rather make converts of us than put us to death.
"No, my friends," answered Boxall calmly. "In our country each man is
allowed to believe as he thinks best; and I tell you that I cannot
believe as you do."
"Then take the consequences of your obstinate unbelief," answered the
marabout, making a sign to the people surrounding us.
They instantly seized Boxall and Selim, and dragged them to the holes,
into which they thrust them,--one facing the other, and with their arms
bound tightly down by their sides,--till their heads alone were visible
above ground. The sand was then shovelled in till their bodies were
entirely buried; after which a bowl of water and two pieces of
well-cooked meat, emitting a pleasant odour, were placed between them,
at such a distance that they could not possibly be reached.
The Arabs had begun to dig two more holes, when we observed some
disturbance among them. Presently the sheikh hurried to the top of a
neighbouring mound, while all eyes were turned northward across the
Desert. Leaving Boxall and Selim in their fearful position, and
entirely disregarding us, those possessing firearms began to look to the
priming, and all appeared to be getting their weapons ready for use,
when, even as we lay on the ground, the heads of men in a long line came
into view above our limited horizon. Then we could distinguish camels--
of which there seemed to be a hundred or more--advancing rapidly in
close order. On they came,--the ground shaking beneath their tread,--
surrounded by clouds of dust stirred up by their feet.
The two sheikhs now marshalled their men, and calling on them to fight
bravely and merit paradise, led them forward to meet the foe. We
watched them with painful interest, for our lives depended on the
result. Whether the strangers had come for the purpose of rescuing us,
we could not tell; but should they be defeated, there could be little
doubt that our present masters would carry out their intention of
putting us to death. If, on the contrary, the strangers gained the day,
we had good hopes that we should be rescued, though we might still be
kept in slavery.
Sheikh Hamed and the black chief fought bravely; but they and their
followers were but ill-armed, and greatly outnumbered. Back and back
they were driven, and many soon lay stretched on the ground. Still
others, who had remained as a reserve, advanced, rushing with their
muskets and swords right up to the camels; but they too were driven
back, while many of them took to flight. I prayed that the tide of
battle would not sweep our way, lest we might be trampled to death.
Several of the blacks, however, passed us, but these were in too great a
hurry to escape to knock us on the head.
Ben, meantime, had been working away desperately to get his hands free.
"Hurrah! I have done it," he shouted, and instantly came and released
Halliday and me. We then hurried to the assistance of Boxall and Selim,
and with one of the spades which had been left behind we quickly dug
them out. It was fortunate that we were not delayed, for they were
already beginning to feel the weight of the sand pressing round them,
though they might possibly have lived for many hours in that position.
We had been so eager in extricating them, that we had not observed how
the battle went, till, looking round, we saw the new-comers in full
pursuit of our late owners, many of whom had been cut down. No
prisoners had been taken, however; for it being known that the blacks
were followers of the Prophet, it was not considered worth while to
capture them, as they could not be held in slavery.
Boxall, on catching sight of the victorious party, at once recognised
them as his friends; and as they now halted and drew together, he led us
towards them. Their leader at once knew him, and gave him a cordial
welcome, expressing his satisfaction at having rescued him. Boxall then
introduced us, and said that we wished to place ourselves under the
protection of him and his tribe. The sheikh then ordering five of his
followers each to take one of us up behind him on his camel, the
victorious party rode off with us across the Desert, in the direction
from which they had come, carrying away with them some of the arms and a
few camels which they had captured.
The band of warriors who had so opportunely come to our rescue belonged,
I learned from the man behind whom I rode, to the powerful tribe of the
Sheikh Salem Alsgoon, between whom and Sheikh Hamed Ben Kaid a feud had
long existed. Although they could not come to blows at the tomb of the
saint, a constant watch had been kept on the movements of Sheikh Hamed;
and when it was found that he had set out from his camp to meet us, an
expedition had been despatched with all haste to surprise him. To this
circumstance we owed our preservation. Sheikh Salem, however, would
have had sufficient excuse, according to the law of the Desert, for
attacking Sheikh Hamed, on account of his having, as was supposed,
carried off one of his slaves; indeed, the desire to recover Boxall was
one of the motives which had induced him to undertake it. Had we not
been found, he had ordered his people to make a few prisoners, in order
that they might be exchanged for Boxall. Thus the very circumstance
which at first appeared the most disastrous to us, as is often the case
in life, resulted ultimately in our favour.