In setting the watch for the night, one of the sentinels was stationed
on the shore about a hundred yards north of the _douar_. His
instructions were to walk a round of about two hundred paces, extending
inward from the beach.
Another was placed about the same distance south of the camp, and was to
pace backwards and forwards after a similar fashion.
Sailor Bill was stationed on the land side of the camp, where he was to
move to and fro between the beats of the two Arab guards, each of whom,
on discovering him at the termination of his round, was to utter the
word "_Akka_" so that the sailor should distinguish him from an enemy.
The Arabs themselves were supposed to be sufficiently intelligent to
tell a friend from a foe without requiring any countersign.
Before Bill was sent upon his beat the old sheik went into a tent, and
soon after reappeared with a large pistol, bearing a strong likeness to
a blunderbuss. This weapon he placed in the sailor's hand, with the
injunction, translated to him by the interpreter, not to discharge it
until he should be certain of killing either Golah, or one of his
companions.
The old sailor, although sorely fatigued with the toil of the day's
journey, had so great a horror of again becoming the property of the
black sheik, that he cheerfully promised to "walk the deck all night,
and keep a good look-out for breakers," and his young companions sought
repose in full confidence that the promise would be faithfully kept.
Any one of the boy slaves would willingly have taken his place, and
allowed their old comrade to rest for the night, but Bill had been
selected by the old sheik, and from his decree there was no appeal.
The two Arabs doing duty as sentinels knew, from past experience, that
if the kafila was still followed by Golah, they would be the individuals
most exposed to danger, and this knowledge was sufficient to stimulate
them to the most faithful discharge of their trust.
Neither of them wished to become victims to the fate which had befallen
their predecessors in office.
For two or three hours both paced slowly to and fro; and Bill, each time
he approached the end of his beat, could hear distinctly pronounced the
word "_Akka_" which proved that his co-sentinels were fully on the
alert.
It so chanced that one of them had no faith in the general belief that
the enemy had relinquished his sanguinary purposes of vengeance.
He drew his deductions from Golah's conduct in the past, and during the
long silent hours of the night his fancy was constantly dwelling on the
manner in which the dreaded enemy had approached the _douar_ on former
occasions.
This sentry was the one stationed to the south of the _douar_; and with
eyes constantly striving to pierce the darkness that shrouded the
sand-plain, the water, on which a better light was reflected, received
no attention from him. He believed the _douar_ well protected on the
side of the sea, for he had no idea that danger could come from that
direction.
He was mistaken.
Had their enemies been, like himself and his companions, true children
of the Saara, his plan of watching for their approach might have
answered well enough; but the latter chanced to be the offspring of a
different country and race.
About three hours after the watch had been established, the sentinel
placed on the southern side of the _douar_ was being closely observed by
the black sheik, yet knew it not.
Golah had chosen a singular plan to secure himself against being
observed, similar to that selected by the three mids for the like
purpose soon after their being cast away upon the coast.
He had stolen into the water; and with only his woolly occiput above the
surface, had approached within a few yards of the spot where the Arab
sentry turned upon his round.
In the darkness of the night, at the distance of twelve or fifteen
paces, he might have been discovered had a close survey been made of the
shining surface. But there was no such survey, and Golah watched the
sentinel, himself unseen.
The attention of the Arab was wholly occupied in looking for the
approach of a foe from the land side; and he was in continual fear of
hearing the report of a musket or feeling the stroke of its bullet.
This disagreeable surprise he never expected could come from the sea,
but was so fully anticipated from the land, that he paid but little or
no attention to the restless waves that were breaking with low moans
against the beach.
As he turned his back upon the water for the hundredth time with the
intention of walking to the other end of his beat, Golah crept gently
out of the water and hastened after him.
The deep sighing of the waves against the shingly shore hindered the
sound of footsteps from being heard.
Golah was only armed with a scimitar; but it was a weapon that, in his
hands, was sure to fall with deadly effect. It was a weapon of great
size and weight, having been made expressly for himself; and with this
upraised, he silently but swiftly glided after the unconscious Arab.
Adding, the whole strength of his powerful arm to the weight of the
weapon, the black sheik brought its sharp edge slantingly down upon the
neck of the unsuspecting sentinel.
With a low moan that sounded in perfect harmony with the sighing of the
waves, the Arab fell to the earth, leaving his musket in the huge hand
his assassin had stretched forth to grasp it. Putting the gun to full
cock, Golah walked on in the direction in which the sentry had been
going. He intended next to encounter the man who was guarding the
eastern side of the _douar_. Walking boldly on, he took no trouble to
avoid the sound of his footsteps being heard, believing that he would be
taken for the sentry he had just slain. After going about a hundred
paces without seeing any one, he paused, and with his large fiercely
gleaming eyes strove to penetrate the surrounding gloom. Still no one
was to be seen, and he laid himself along the earth to listen for
footfalls.
Nothing could be heard; but after glancing for some moments along the
ground he saw a dark object outlined above the surface. Unable, from
the distance, to form a correct idea of what it was, he cautiously
advanced towards it, keeping on all-fours till he could see that the
object was a human being, prostrate on the ground, and apparently
listening like himself. Why should the man be listening? Not to note
the approach of his companion, for that should be expected without
suspicion, as his attitude would indicate. He might be asleep, reasoned
Golah. If so, fortune seemed to favour him; and with this reflection he
stealthily moved on towards the prostrate form.
Though the latter moved not, still Golah was not quite sure that the
sentry was asleep. Again he paused, and for a moment fixed his eyes on
the body with a piercing gaze. If the man was not sleeping, why should
he allow an enemy to approach so near? Why lie so quietly without
showing any sign or giving an alarm? If Golah could despatch this
sentinel as he had done the other, without making any noise, he would,
along with his two relatives (who were waiting the result of his
adventure), afterwards steal into the _douar_, and all he had lost might
be again recovered.
The chance was worth the risk, so thought Golah, and silently moved on.
As he drew nearer he saw that the man was lying on on his side with his
face turned towards him, and partly concealed by one arm.
The black sheik could see no gun in his hands; and consequently there
would be but little danger in an encounter with him, if such should
chance to arise.
Golah grasped the heavy scimitar in his right-hand, evidently intending
to despatch his victim, as he had done the other, with a single blow.
The head could be severed from the body at one stroke, and no alarm
would be given to the slumbering camp.
The heavy blade of shining steel was raised aloft; and the grip of the
powerful hand clutching its hilt became more firm and determined.
Sailor Bill! has your promise to keep a sharp look-out been broken so
soon?
Beware! Golah is near, with strength in his arm, and murder in his
mind!