Sailor Bill's conjecture that they were not far from the sea proved
correct.
On the evening of that same day they saw the sun sink down into a
shining horizon, which they knew was not that of the burning sand-plain
over which they had been so long moving.
That faint and distant view of his favourite element was a joyful moment
for the old sailor.
"We are in sight of home!" he exclaimed. "Shiver my timbers if I ever
lose sight of it again! I shan't be buried in the sand. If I must go
under alive, it shall be under water, like a Christyun. If I could
swim, I'd start right off for Hold Hingland as soon as we get to yonder
shore."
The boy slaves were alike inspired with hope and joy at the distant
view.
The sea was still too far off to be reached that night, and the _douar_
was pitched about five miles from the shore.
During this night, three of the Arabs were kept constantly on guard; but
the camp was not disturbed, and next morning they resumed their journey,
some with the hope and others with the fear that Golah would trouble
them no more.
The Arabs wished to meet him during the hours of daylight, and secure
the property they had lost; and from their knowledge of the part of the
desert they were now traversing, they were in hopes of doing this. They
knew there was but one place within two days' journey where fresh water
could be obtained; and should they succeed in reaching this place before
Golah, they could lie in wait for his arrival. They were certain he
must visit this watering-place to save his animals from perishing with
thirst.
At noon-day a halt was made not far from the beach. It was only for a
short while; for they were anxious to reach the well as soon as
possible. The few minutes spent at the halting-place were well employed
by the boy slaves in gathering shell-fish and bathing their bodies in
the surf.
Refreshed by this luxurious food, as well as by the washing, of which
they were greatly in need, they were able to proceed at a better pace;
so that about an hour before sunset the caravan arrived at the well.
Just before reaching it, the old sheik and one of his companions had
dismounted and walked forward to examine such tracks as might be found
about the place. They were chagrined to find that Golah had been
before. He had been to the well, and obtained a supply of water. His
footmarks were easily identified. They were fresh, having been made but
an hour or two before the arrival of the caravan; and in place of their
having to wait for Golah, he was undoubtedly waiting for them. They
felt sure that the black sheik was not far off, watching for a
favourable opportunity of again paying them a nocturnal visit. They
could now understand why he had not attempted to molest them on the
preceding night. He had been hastening forward, in order to reach the
well in advance of them.
The apprehensions of the Arabs became keener and keener after this
discovery. They were also much puzzled as to what they should do; and a
diversity of opinion arose as to the best plan for guarding the camp
against their implacable foe. Some were in favour of staying by the
well for several days, until the supply of water which their enemy had
taken with him should be exhausted. Golah would then have to revisit
the well, or perish of thirst upon the desert. The idea was an
ingenious one, but unfortunately their stock of provisions would not
admit of any delay, and it was resolved that the journey should be
resumed at once.
Just as they were preparing to move away from the well, a caravan of
traders arrived from the south, and the old sheik made anxious inquiries
as to whether the new comers had seen anyone on their route. The
traders, to whom the caravan belonged, had that morning met three men
who answered to the description of Golah and his companions. They were
journeying south, and had purchased a small supply of food from the
caravan.
Could it be that Golah had given up the hope of recovering his lost
property, relinquished his deadly purpose of revenge? The Arabs
professed much unwillingness to believe it. Some of them loudly
proposed starting southward in pursuit. But this proposition was
overruled, and it was evident that the old sheik, as well as most of his
followers, were in reality pleased to think that Golah would trouble
them no more.
The sheik decreed that the property of those who had perished should be
divided amongst those who survived. This giving universal satisfaction,
the Arab kafila took its departure, leaving the caravan of the traders
by the well, where they were intending to remain for some time longer.
Shortly after leaving the well, the old sheik ordered a halt by the
seashore, where he stopped long enough for his slaves to gather some
shell-fish, enough to satisfy the hunger of all his followers.
A majority of the Arabs were under the belief that the black sheik had
started at last for his own country, satisfied with the revenge he had
already taken. They seemed to think that keeping watch over the camp
would no longer be necessary.
With this opinion their Krooman captive did not agree; and, fearing to
fall again into the possession of Golah, he laboured to convince his new
master that they were as likely that night to receive a visit from the
black sheik as they had ever been before.
He argued that, if Golah had entertained a hope of defeating his foes,
eleven in number, when alone, and armed only with a scimitar, he
certainly would not be likely to relinquish that hope after having
succeeded in killing nearly half of them, and being strengthened by a
couple of able assistants.
The Krooman believed that Golah's going south, as reported by the party
met at the well, was proof that he really intended proceeding north; and
he urged the Arab sheik to set a good guard over the _douar_ through the
night.
"Tell him," said Harry, "if they are not inclined to keep guard for
themselves, that we will stand it, if they will only allow us to have
weapons of some kind or other."
The Krooman made this communication to the Arab sheik, who smiled only
in reply.
The idea of allowing slaves to guard an Arab _douar_, especially to
furnish them with fire-arms, was very amusing to the old chieftain of
the Saara.
Harry understood the meaning of his smile. It meant refusal; but the
young Englishman had also become impressed with the danger suggested by
Terence: that Golah would yet kill all the Arabs and take the boy slaves
back to Timbuctoo.
"Tell the sheik that he is an old fool," said he to the interpreter;
"tell him that we have a greater objection to falling into the hands of
Golah than he has of losing either us or his own life. Tell him that we
wish to go north, where we can be redeemed; and that for this reason
alone we should be far more careful in guarding the camp against
surprise than any of his own people."
When this communication was made to the old sheik it seemed to strike
him as having some reason in it; and, convinced by the Krooman's
arguments that there was still danger to be apprehended from Golah's
vengeance, he directed that the _douar_ should be strictly guarded, and
that the white slaves might take part in the duty.
"You shall be taken north and sold to your countrymen," promised he, "if
you give us no trouble in the transit. There are but few of my people
left now, and it is hard for us to travel all day and keep watch all
night. If you are really afraid of falling into the hands of this
Prophet-accursed negro, and will help us in guarding against his
murderous attacks, you are welcome to do so; but if any one of you
attempt to play traitor, the whole four of you shall lose your heads. I
swear it by the beard of the Prophet!"
The Krooman assured him that none of the white slaves had any desire to
deceive him, adding, that self-interest, if nothing else, would cause
them to be true to those who would take them to a place where they would
have a chance of being ransomed out of slavery.
Darkness having by this time descended over the desert, the sheik set
about appointing the guard for the night. He was too suspicious of his
white slaves to allow all the four of them to act as guards at the same
time, while he and his companions were asleep. He was willing, however,
that one of them should be allowed to keep watch in company with one of
his own followers.
In choosing the individual for this duty, he inquired from the Krooman
which of the four had been most ill-used by the black sheik. Sailor
Bill was pointed out as the man; and the interpreter gave some details
of the cruel treatment to which the old man-o'-war's-man had been
subjected at the hands of Golah.
"Bismillah! that is well," said the sheik. "Let him keep the watch.
After what you say, revenge should hinder him closing his eyes in sleep
for a whole moon. There's no fear that he will betray us."