At sundown, three days after my escape from the Ennitra, my eyes
distinguished the palms of the Meskam Oasis standing at the foot of a
large sand-hill. Zoraida had correctly informed me, for under feathery
trees, amid the luxuriant vegetation which one finds here and there in
the Sahara, the Spahis and Chasseurs d'Afrique had established an
advanced post.
In an hour I had entered the camp, and being taken before the French
commandant, related my story. I told him of my journey with Ali Ben
Hafiz, of the attack, and of the massacre.
"_Bien_! and you alone escaped!" exclaimed the officer, a thorough
boulevardier, who sat before his tent with outstretched legs, lazily
puffing a cigarette.
"Yes," I replied.
He was as well groomed, and his moustache was as carefully waxed, as if
he were lounging outside the Cafe de la Paix.
"You were exceedingly fortunate," he exclaimed, rolling his cigarette
carelessly. "Those who fall into Absalam's clutches seldom escape.
_Diable_! he's the most fierce cut-throat in all Algeria. How did you
manage it?"
I hesitated. Had I not promised Zoraida to preserve the secret of their
whereabouts for her sake? If her people were to escape, I should be
compelled to make misleading statements. At last I replied--
"They left me bound to a tree during the night, and I succeeded in
loosening the cords. Finding a horse ready saddled, I jumped upon it
and rode away." After I had uttered the words, I saw how lame was my
story.
"But how did you know we were here?" asked the commandant, blowing a
cloud of smoke from his lips, regarding me rather critically, and then
offering me a _chebli_ from his case.
"I had no idea," I replied. "Seeing the palms from yonder ridge, I came
here to rest. Had I not discovered the oasis, I should most likely have
perished."
"You certainly would not have lived many days," he said. "The nearest
well is two hundred miles in any direction, therefore, if you had missed
this, the vultures would soon have made a meal off you. But," he
continued, "describe to me where we are likely to find Hadj Absalam. We
have been in search of him these three months, but, strangely enough,
his spies appear to watch all our movements, with the result that he
evades us in a manner simply marvellous."