ONCE MORE THE MOCKING LAUGH.
After a good deal of scrambling and struggling, our adventurers
succeeded in getting clear of the quicksand, and planting their feet
upon firmer bottom,--a little nearer to the water's edge. Though at this
point more exposed than they wished to be, they concealed themselves as
well as they could, holding their faces under the water up to the eyes.
Though believing that their enemies were gone for good, they dared not
as yet wade out upon the beach. The retiring pursuers would naturally be
looking back; and as the moon was still shining clearly as ever, they
might be seen from a great distance.
They feel that they would not be safe in leaving their place of
concealment until the horde had recrossed the ridge, and descended once
more into the oasis that contained their encampment.
Making a rough calculation as to the time it would take for the return
journey,--and allowing a considerable margin against the eventuality of
any unforeseen delay,--the mids remained in their subaqueous retreat,
without any material change of position.
When at length it appeared to them that the "coast was clear," they rose
to their feet, and commenced wading towards the strand.
Though no longer believing themselves observed, they proceeded silently
and with caution,--the only noise made among them being the chattering
of their teeth, which were going like three complete sets of castanets.
This they could not help. The night breeze playing upon the saturated
garments,--that clung coldly around their bodies,--chilled them to the
very bones; and not only their teeth, but their knees knocked together,
as they staggered towards the beach.
Just before reaching it, an incident arose that filled them with fresh
forebodings. The strange beast that had threatened to intercept their
retreat over the ridge, once more appeared before their eyes. It was
either the same, or one of the same kind,--equally ugly, and to all
appearance, equally determined to dispute their passage.
It was now patrolling the strand close by the water's edge,--going
backwards and forwards, precisely as it had done along the saddle-shaped
sand wreath,--all the while keeping its hideous face turned towards
them. With the moon behind their backs, they had a better view of it
than before; but this, though enabling them to perceive that it was some
strange quadruped, did not in any way improve their opinion of it. They
could see that it was covered with a coat of long shaggy hair, of a
brindled brown color; and that from a pair of large orbs, set obliquely
in its head, gleamed forth a fierce, sullen light.
How it had come there they knew not; but there it was. Judging from the
experience of their former encounter with it they presumed it would
again retreat at their approach; and, once more drawing their dirks,
they advanced boldly towards it.
They were not deceived. Long before they were near, the uncouth creature
turned tail; and, again giving utterance to its unearthly cry, scampered
off towards the ravine,--in whose shadowy depths it soon disappeared
from their view.
Supposing they had nothing further to fear, our adventurers stepped out
upon the strand, and commenced consultation as to their future course.
To keep on down the coast and get as far as possible from the Arab
encampment,--was the thought of all three; and as they were unanimous in
this, scarce a moment was wasted in coming to a determination. Once
resolved, they faced southward; and started off as briskly as their
shivering frames and saturated garments would allow them.
There was not much to cheer them on their way,--only the thought that
they had so adroitly extricated themselves from a dread danger. But even
this proved only a fanciful consolation; for scarce had they made a
score of steps along the strand, when they were brought to a sudden
halt, by hearing a noise that appeared to proceed from the ravine behind
them.
It was a slight noise, something like a snort, apparently made by some
animal; and, for the moment, they supposed it to come from the ugly
quadruped that, after saluting them, had retreated up the gorge.
On turning their eyes in that direction, they at once saw that they were
mistaken. A quadruped had produced the noise; but one of a very
different kind from the hairy brute with which they had parted. Just
emerging from the shadow of the sand-hills, they perceived a huge
creature, whose uncouth shape proclaimed it to be a camel.
The sight filled them with consternation. Not that it was a camel; but
because, at the same time, they discovered that there was a man upon its
back, who, brandishing a long weapon, was urging the animal towards
them.
The three midshipmen made no effort to continue the journey thus
unexpectedly interrupted. They saw that any attempt to escape from such
a fast-going creature would be idle. Encumbered as they were with their
wet garments, they could not have distanced a lame duck; and, resigning
themselves to the chances of destiny, they stood awaiting the encounter.