Though there was now nothing within sight between them, they did not
think it prudent to move out of the gorge, nor even to raise their heads
above the level of the sand-wreath. They did so only at intervals, to
assure themselves that the "coast was clear"; and satisfied on this
score, they would lower their heads again, and remain in this attitude
of concealment.
One with but slight knowledge of the circumstances, or with the country
in which they were, might consider them over-cautious in acting thus,
and might fancy that in their forlorn, shipwrecked condition they should
have been but too glad to meet men.
On the contrary, a creature of their own shape was the last thing they
desired either to see or encounter; and for reasons already given in
their conversation, they could meet no men there who would not be their
enemies, worse than that, their tyrants, perhaps their torturers. Old
Bill was sure of this from what he had heard. So were Colin and Harry
from what they had read. Terence alone was incredulous as to the
cruelty of which the sailor had given such a graphic picture.
Terence, however rash he was by nature, allowed himself to be overruled
by his more prudent companions; and therefore, up to the hour when the
twilight began to empurple the sea, no movement towards stirring from
their place of concealment was made by any of the party.
The patient camel shared their silent retreat; though they had taken
precautions against its straying from them, had it felt so inclined, by
tying its shanks securely together. Towards evening the animal was
again milked, in the same fashion as in the morning; and, reinvigorated
by its bountiful yield, our adventurers prepared to depart from a spot
of which, notwithstanding the friendly concealment it had afforded them,
they were all heartily tired.
Their preparations were easily made, and occupied scarce ten seconds of
time. It was only to untether the camel and take to the road, or, as
Harry jocosely termed it, "unmoor the desert ship and begin their
voyage."
Just as the last gleam of daylight forsook the white crests of the
sand-hills, and went flickering afar over the blue waters of the ocean,
they stole forth from their hiding-place, and started upon a journey of
which they knew neither the length nor the ending.
Even of the direction of that undetermined journey they had but a vague
conception. They believed that the coast trended northward and
southward, and that one of these points was the proper one to head for.
It was almost "heads or tails" which of them they should take, and had
they been better acquainted with their true situation, it might as well
have been determined by a toss up, for any chance they had of ever
arriving at a civilised settlement. But they knew not that. They had a
belief, the old sailor stronger than the rest, that there were
Portuguese forts along the coast, chiefly to the southward, and that by
keeping along shore they might reach one of these. There were such
establishments it is true--still are; and though at that time there were
some nearer to the point where their ship had been wrecked, none were
near enough to be reached by the starving castaway, however
perseveringly he might travel towards them.
Ignorant of the impracticability of their attempt, our adventurers
entered upon it with a spirit worthy of success--worthy of the country
from which they had come.
For some time the maherry was led in hand, Old Bill being its conductor.
All four had been well rested during the day; and none of them cared to
ride.
As the tide, however, was now beginning to creep up into the sandy
inlets, to avoid walking in water, they were compelled to keep well high
up on the beach; and this forced them to make their way through the soft
yielding sand--a course that required considerable exertion.
One after another now began to feel fatigue, and talk about it as well;
and then the proposal was made that the maherry, who stepped over the
unsure surface with as much apparent lightness as a cat would have done,
should be made to carry at least one of the party. They could ride in
turns, which would give each of them an opportunity of resting.
No sooner was the proposition made than it was carried into execution;
Terence, who had been the one to advance it, being hoisted up to the
hump of the camel.
But though the young O'Connor had been accustomed the saddle from
childhood, and had ridden "across country" on many an occasion, it was
not long before he became dissatisfied with the saddle of a maherry.
The rocking, and jolting, and "pitching" as our adventurers termed it,
from larboard to starboard, fore and aft, and alow and aloft, soon
caused Terence to sing out "belay"; and he descended into the soft sand
with a much greater desire for walking than the moment before he had had
for riding.
Harry Blount took his place; but although the young Englishman had been
equally accustomed to a hunting saddle, he found that his experience
went but a little way towards making him easy on the hump of a maherry;
and he was soon in the mood for dismounting.
The son of Scotia next climbed upon the back of the camel. Whether it
was that natural pride of prowess which oft impels his countrymen to
perseverance and daring deeds--whether it was that, or whether it arose
from a sterner power of endurance, certain it is that Colin kept his
seat longer than either of his predecessors.
But even Scotch sinews could not hold out against such a tension, such a
bursting and wrenching and tossing, and it ended by Colin declaring that
upon the whole he would prefer making the journey upon "Shanks's mare."
Saying this he slid down from the shoulders of the ungainly animal,
resigning the creature once more to the conduct of Old Bill, who had
still kept hold of the halter.