During the night's journey Golah still seemed to have some fear of the
Arabs; and so great was the desire to place as much ground as possible
between himself and them that he did not halt until the sun was more
than two hours above the horizon.
For some time before a halt had been planned, Fatima, his favourite
wife, had been riding by his side, and making what seemed from the
excited movements of both an important communication.
After the tents had been pitched, and food was about being served out,
Golah commanded the mother of the boy carried by Colin to produce the
bag of figs that had been entrusted to her keeping.
Trembling with apprehension, the woman rose to obey. The Krooman
glanced at the white captives with an expression of horror; and although
they had not understood Golah's command, they saw that something was
going wrong.
The woman produced the bag, which was not quite half full. There were
in it about two quarts of dried figs.
The figs that had been served out three days before at the dry well had
been taken from another bag kept in the custody of Fatima.
The one now produced by the second wife should have been full; and Golah
demanded to know why it was not.
The woman trembling asseverated that she and her children had eaten
them.
At this confession Fatima uttered a scornful laugh, and spoke a few
words that increased the terror of the delinquent mother, at the same
time causing the boy to commence howling with affright.
"I tell you so," said the Krooman, who was standing near the white
slaves; "Fatima say to Golah, `Christian dog eat the figs;' Golah kill
him now; he kill da woman too."
In the opinion of those who travel the great desert, about the greatest
crime that can be committed is to steal food or drink, and consume
either unknown to their companions of the journey.
Articles of food entrusted to the care of anyone must be guarded and
preserved--even at the expense of life.
Under no circumstances may a morsel be consumed until it is produced in
the presence of all, and a division, either equitable or otherwise, has
been made.
Even had the story told by the woman been true, her crime would have
been considered sufficiently great to have endangered her life: but her
sin was greater than that.
She had bestowed favour upon a slave--a Christian dog--and had aroused
the jealousy of her Mahometan lord and master.
Fatima seemed happy, for nothing less than a miracle could, in her
opinion, save the life of her fellow-wife, who chanced to be a hated
rival.
After drawing his scimitar from its sheath, and cocking his musket,
Golah ordered all the slaves to squat themselves on the ground, and in a
row.
This order was quickly comprehended and obeyed--the whites seating
themselves together at one end of the line.
Golah's son and the other guard--each with his musket loaded and
cocked--were stationed in front of the row; and were ordered by the
sheik to shoot any one who attempted to get up from the ground.
The monster then stepped up to Colin, and, seizing the young Scotchman
by the auburn locks, dragged him a few paces apart from his companions.
There, for a time, he was left alone.
Golah then proceeded to serve out some cheni to every individual on the
ground, but none was given to the woman who had aroused his anger, nor
to Colin.
In the sheik's opinion, to have offered them food would have been an act
as foolish as to have poured it upon the sands.
Food was intended to sustain life, and it was not designed by him that
they should live much longer. And yet it was evident from his manner
that he had not quite determined as to how they were to die.
The two guards, with the muskets in their grasp, kept a sharp eye on the
slaves; while Golah became engaged in a close consultation with Fatima.
"What shall we do?" asked Terence; "the old villain means mischief, and
how can we prevent it? We must not let him kill poor Colly."
"We must do something immediately," said Harry. "We have neglected it
too long, and shall now have to act under the disadvantage of their
being prepared for an attack. Bill, what should we do?"
"I was just thinkin'," said Bill, "that if we all made a rush at 'em, at
the words one--two--three! not more'n two or three of us might be killed
before we grappled with 'em. Now, this might do, if these black fellows
would only jine us."
The Krooman here expressed himself as one willing to take his chance in
any action they should propose; and believed that his countrymen would
do the same. He feared, however, that the other blacks could not be
trusted, and that any proposal he might make to them would be in a
language the two guards would understand.
"Well, then," said Harry, "there will be six of us against three. Shall
I give the word?"
"All right!" said Terence, drawing his feet under his body, by way of
preparation for rising suddenly.
The scheme was a desperate one, but all seemed willing to undertake it.
Since leaving the well, they had felt convinced that life and liberty
depended on their making a struggle; though circumstances seemed to have
forced that struggle upon them when there was the least hope of success.
"Now all make ready," muttered Harry, speaking in a calm voice, so as
not to excite the attention of the guards. "One!"
"Stop!" exclaimed Colin, who had been listening attentively to all that
was said. "I'm not with you. We should all be killed. Two or three
would be shot, and the sheik himself could finish all the rest with his
scimitar. It is better for him to kill me, if he really means to do so,
than to have all four destroyed in the vain hope of trying to save one."
"It is not for you alone that we are going to act," interposed Harry.
"It is as much for ourselves."
"Then act when there is a chance of succeeding," pursued Colin. "You
cannot save me, and will only lose your own lives."
"De big black sheik am going to kill someb'dy, dat berry sure," said
the Krooman, as he sat with his eyes fixed upon Golah.
The latter was still in consultation with Fatima, his face wearing an
expression that was horrible for all except herself to behold. Murder
by excruciating torture seemed written on every feature of his
countenance.
The woman, upon whose manner of death they were deliberating, was in the
act of caressing her children, apparently conscious that she had but a
few minutes more to remain in their company. Her features wore an
expression of calm and hopeless resignation, as if she had yielded
herself up to the decree of an inevitable fate.
The third wife had retired a short distance from the others. With her
child in her arms, she sate upon the ground, contemplating the scene
before her with a look of mingled surprise, curiosity, and regret.
From the appearance of the whole caravan, a stranger could have divined
that some event of thrilling interest was about to transpire.
"Colin," cried Terence, encouragingly, "we won't sit here quietly and
see you meet death. We had better do something while yet we have a
chance. Let Harry give the word."
"I tell you it's madness," expostulated Colin. "Wait till we see what
he intends doing. Perhaps he'll keep me awhile for future vengeance;
and ye may have a chance of a rescue when there are not two men standing
over us ready to blow our brains out."
Colin's companion saw there was truth in this remark; and for awhile
they waited in silence, with their eyes fixed upon the tent of the
sheik.
They had not long to wait, for soon after Golah came forth, having
finished his consultation with Fatima.
On his face appeared a hideous smile, a smile that made most of those
who beheld it shudder with a sensation of horror.