The process of watering the camels was carried on with the utmost
diligence and care. It was too important to be trifled with, or
negligently performed. While filling the capacious stomachs of the
quadrupeds, their owners were but laying in a stock for themselves.
As Sailor Bill jocularly remarked, "it was like filling the water-casks
of a man-of-war previous to weighing anchor for a voyage." In truth,
very similar was the purpose for which these ships of the desert were
being supplied; for, when filling the capacious stomachs of the
quadrupeds, their owners were not without the reflection that the supply
might yet pass into their own. Such a contingency was not improbable,
neither would it be new.
For this reason the operation was conducted with diligence and care, no
camel being led away from the pool until it was supposed to have had a
"surfeit", and this point was settled by seeing the water poured in at
its nostrils running out at its mouth.
As each in turn got filled, it was taken back to the tribe to which it
belonged; for the united hordes had by this time become separated into
two distinct parties, preparatory to starting off on their respective
routes.
Our adventurers could now perceive a marked difference between the two
bands of Saara wanderers into whose hands they had unfortunately fallen.
As already stated, the black sheik was an African of the true negro
type, with thick lips, flattened nostrils, woolly hair, and heels
projecting several inches to the rear of his ankle-joints. Most of his
following were similarly "furnished", though not all of them. There
were a few of mixed colour, with straight hair, and features almost
Caucasian, who submitted to his rule, or rather to his ownership, since
these last all appeared to be his slaves.
Those who trooped after the old Arab were mostly of his own race, mixed
with a remnant of mongrel Portuguese, descendants of the Peninsular
colonists who had fled from the coast settlements after the conquest of
Morocco by the victorious "Sheriffs."
Of such mixed races are the tribes who thinly people the Saara--Arabs,
Berbers, Ethiopians of every hue; all equally Bedouins, wanderers of the
pathless deserts. It did not escape the observation of our adventurers
that the slaves of the Arab sheik and his followers were mostly pure
negroes from the south; while those of the black chieftain, as
proclaimed by the colour of their skin, showed a Shemitic or Japhetic
origin. The philosophic Colin could perceive in this a silent evidence
of the retribution of races.
The supply of water being at length laid in, not only in the skins
appropriated to the purpose, but also within the stomachs of the camels,
the two tribes seem prepared to exchange with each other the parting
salute, to speak the "Peace be with you!" And yet there was something
that caused them to linger in each other's proximity. Their new-made
captives could tell this, though ignorant of what it might be.
It was something that had yet to be settled between the two sheiks who
did not appear at this moment of leave-taking to entertain for each
other any very cordial sentiment of friendship.
Could their thoughts have found expression in English words, they would
have taken shape somewhat as follows:--
"That lubberly nigger," (we are pursuing the train of reflections that
passed through the mind of the Arab sheik)--"old Nick burn him!--thinks
I've got more than my share of this lucky windfall. He wants these boys
bad, I know that. The Sultan of Timbuctoo has given him a commission to
procure white slaves, that's clear; and boy slaves, if he can, that's
equally certain. This lot would suit him to a T. I can tell that he
don't care much for the old salt he has tricked me out of by his
superior skill at that silly game of helga. No; his Majesty of the
mud-walled city don't want such as him. It's boys he's after, as can
wait smartly at his royal table, and give _eclat_ to his ceremonial
entertainments. Well, he can have these three at a price.
"Ay; but a big price," continued the cunning old trafficker in human
flesh, after a short reflection, "a whopping big price. The togs we've
stripped from them were no common clothing. Good broadcloth in their
jackets, and bullion bands on their caps. They must be the sons of
great sheiks. At Wedinoin the old Jew will redeem them. So, too, the
merchants at Susa; or maybe I had best take them on to Mogador, where
the consul of their country will come down handsomely for such as they.
Yes; that's the trick!"
At this parting scene the thoughts of Fatima's husband were equally
occupied with trading speculations, in which he was assisted by the
amiable Fatima herself.