It was a mad dash for liberty. Ignorant of where my footsteps would
lead me, I sped swiftly onward across a great open space, which I
afterwards learnt was called the Katshiu, past the Mesallaje, or Great
Mosque, with its high square minaret, and running beside the walls of
several spacious whitewashed buildings, evidently the residences of
wealthier merchants, I turned the first corner I came to, and, passing a
stagnant pool, found myself in a maze of squalid, narrow, ill-built
streets, which, though bearing marks of former grandeur, were unpaved
and filthy. The houses, mostly of one storey, were mean, flat-roofed,
and half in decay, and as I wound my way through the unlighted, crooked
thoroughfares, I could still hear the hurrying footsteps and shrill
cries of the palace guards, who, eager for revenge, were determined that
I should not escape them.
Panting, well knowing that a halt meant death by torture, I ran forward
until I found myself in the Erarar-n-Zakan, or Camel Market, a small
square with the usual arched arcade running along one side. Then, the
angry shouts of the janissaries sounding on my ears, I resolved upon a
desperate expedient, namely, to dash along a street which led back in
the direction I had come, and so return towards the Mosque. Even in my
desperation I was determined to seek the holy man and deliver Zoraida's
letter which for so many months had reposed in the little leathern
charm-case suspended round my neck; but as I rushed headlong across a
deserted market-place and emerged into an open space, I noticed a
youthful Arab horseman mounted and leading a horse saddled but
riderless.
My footsteps attracted him, and, having gazed at me for a moment
intently, and apparently taking in the situation, he spurred across to
cut off my retreat. As he rode down upon me, his flowing white robe
looking ghostly in the darkness, my heart sank, for I was thoroughly
exhausted and no longer hoped for freedom.
Judge my amazement, however, when, pulling up suddenly close to me, he
exclaimed--
"Peace! Mount yonder steed quickly, and let us away! _Dachchan_!"
The word gave me courage. It had been uttered by the mysterious man who
at the cost of his own life had accomplished my deliverance! The
fierce, brutal guards, accompanied by a number of Arabs who considered
it sport to hunt a slave, were still in full cry after me. Already they
had gained the Katanga, therefore, without losing a moment, I rushed
towards the horse, swung myself into the saddle, and sped away like the
wind, my rescuer leading.
Shots sounded in rapid succession, but we remained unharmed, and with
loud, angry curses sounding in the distance, we rode speedily forward,
to where there was a breach in the city walls, and then away through the
fertile oasis. As in silence we pressed onward at a wild, mad gallop, I
was filled with admiration at the magnificent manner in which my
companion sat his horse. He seemed merely a youth, for he was not tall,
and his haick, well drawn over his face, half concealed his features,
yet he rode at a pace that was killing, regardless of obstacles or the
uneven nature of the ground.
"For me this day hath indeed been one full of events," I managed to gasp
at length, when, in ascending the rising ground, our horses slackened.
"And for me also," he replied, without glancing towards me. "How sad it
is that the daring Hamma, hero of a hundred fights, should have fallen
in his valiant attempt to rescue thee!"
"Yes," I answered. "He fought bravely, indeed. But how didst thou know
of his death?"
"I was awaiting thee outside the mosque opposite the Fada gate, with a
horse for Hamma and thyself," he answered. "I saw him fall, and then I
witnessed thy flight. I could not reach thee in time, but by the shouts
of the janissaries I knew the direction thou hadst taken, and posted
myself in readiness. Praise be unto Allah that thou hast escaped those
fiendish brutes!"
"But it is all a mystery," I said. "Tell me who plotted my deliverance;
why should it be attempted by an outlaw?"
"I know nothing," he replied, "save that it was imperative that thy life
should be saved."
"Why?"
"Because thou art the Amin, and the Well-Beloved."
"What dost thou know of me?" I asked, in surprise. "Nothing, beyond
the fact that thou, who hast undertaken a secret mission, fell into the
hands of the slave-raiders and became a prisoner in the inner court of
the Fada."
"Then thou art aware of my mission?"
"I am aware that thou art a Roumi from across the sea."
"Knowest thou Hadj Mohammed ben Ishak, the _imam_ of the Mesallaje?" I
asked.
"Yes, I knew him. He was a man pious and full of learning."
"What! hath the Avenger claimed him?"
"No. He hath gone on a journey."
"On a journey?" I cried in dismay. "When will he return?"
"I know not."
We had reached the brow of the hill, and our horses started off again at
the same terrific pace as before. Noticing our saddle-bags were packed
as if for travel, I inquired where we were going, but the only answer
vouchsafed was--
"Trust thyself unto me."
For another hour we rode onward through a great grove of date palms,
until at last we plunged into a dense tropical forest, along what
appeared to be a secret, unfrequented path. Presently, however, my
guide suggested that we should rest until sunrise, and, dismounting, we
unsaddled our horses, and, throwing ourselves down with our heads upon
our saddle-bags, slept soundly.
It was bright daylight when, on opening my eyes, I made an amazing
discovery. The sex of my companion had changed! My guide to whom I
owed my freedom was not a youth, as I had believed, but a young and
pretty Arab woman, whose bright-hued silk garments had been concealed by
a man's burnouse, while on her head she had worn the fez and haick
instead of the dainty embroidered cap and sequins which she had now
resumed.
"Thou art astonished at my transformation," she laughed roguishly,
standing before me with her pretty face unveiled. "Man's attire doth
not suit me in the light of day."
"Why hast thou practised such deception upon me?" I asked, amazed.
"Because it was necessary. It was arranged that I should merely hold
the horses in readiness, but when thou alone escaped, it became
imperative that I should act as thy servant and guide."
"I owe thee a great debt indeed," I said. "Tell me thy name."
"My name and tribe are of no consequence," she answered. "An
explanation will be given thee some day; at present I am bound to
secrecy."
"Even though thou art of the sect of the Aissawa and of the tribe of the
Ennitra--eh?" I asked.
"How didst thou know?" she asked, startled. But I refused to satisfy
her curiosity, although, truth to tell, I had noticed neatly tattooed
upon her forehead a serpent, the symbol of the more fanatical of the
followers of Sidi ben Aissa, and upon her wrist was a curiously-wrought
Kabyle bracelet of white metal, similar in form to one Zoraida had worn.
The presence of this woman so far south puzzled me greatly, and I sat
silent and thoughtful while she produced from her saddle-bag some dates,
with a little skinful of water in which uzak seeds had been dipped, and
which I found a cooling and refreshing drink.
When we had eaten, she twisted her haick around her head, leaving just a
slit for her eyes, then she sprang lightly into her saddle and we moved
on again. Our way lay through a great thicket, where the mimosas and
abisga attained such an exuberance as I had never before seen in the
Sahara, and being closely interwoven by "graffeni," or climbing plants,
were almost impenetrable.
As we rode along the secret path, I endeavoured to persuade her to tell
me of Zoraida, but her lips were closely sealed. She admitted that she
had heard of the Daughter of the Sun, but with artful ingenuousness
declared that she had never seen her.
"I have heard that she died in Algiers somewhat mysteriously," I said,
watching her dark eyes narrowly.
"Yes," she exclaimed, quite calmly. "I have heard a similar report, and
it is a curious circumstance that none have seen her since she went to
El Djezair."
"She could foretell coming events and divine the thoughts of those with
whom she came into contact," I observed.
"True, O Roumi. Whenever she accompanied our people into battle, they
returned with much spoil and many slaves. Her love was a fierce,
unbridled passion, and her hatred bitter and lifelong."
"And the Sheikh, Hadj Absalam, what of him?"
"I know not. I am merely thy servant and thy guide. Ask me not things
of which I have no knowledge;" and with this rebuff she commenced
chattering and laughing gaily, leading the way through the dense forest
in the depths of which it would have been easy enough to lose one's self
and perish. That she had before traversed the secret route was
apparent, and her anxiety to push onward showed her impatience to bring
our journey to a conclusion. Any little gallantry I offered when she
found herself in difficulty owing to her dress catching in the twigs was
accepted with dignity and murmured thanks, but regarding our ultimate
destination she refused to utter a single word, beyond stating that for
three days longer we should be travelling companions, and vaguely
hinting that the journey might prove beneficial to my interests.
Riding at slow pace behind her through the tangled tropical vegetation,
where flowers grew in wild, luxuriant profusion, and monkeys, alarmed at
our appearance, swang from tree to tree, I reflected how utterly
fruitless my journey over the Great Desert had proved. The mysterious
conspiracy of silence regarding Zoraida into which everyone seemed to
have entered appeared directed against myself, for with the exception of
what she had told me with her own lips, I knew absolutely nothing of
her. The mystic rites practised in the secret chamber, the discovery of
the Crescent of Glorious Wonders, and the unknown object of my mission
to Agadez, were all enigmas so puzzling as to drive me to the verge of
madness. Although a strenuous, desperate effort had been made to
release me from the Sultan's palace, nevertheless every precaution had
apparently been taken in order that I should obtain no knowledge of
Zoraida's past, of her present whereabouts, or even whether she still
lived.
For a brief rest we halted about noon, ate our scanty meal which my
pretty guide prepared, and then, declaring that she was not fatigued, we
moved on again, still through the great forest unknown to geographers
that seemed appallingly weird and impenetrable. I had no idea that the
Oasis of the Ahir comprised such an extensive tract of wooded land.
From the sun it appeared as though we were travelling in a
north-westerly direction. The path wound and turned in a manner that
would have been puzzling and amazing to the stranger, and at times it
was lost sight of altogether, as if to prevent those who discovered it
accidentally from following it up.
The afternoon passed, and the mellowing rays of sunlight glinting
through the trees tinted the long tresses of my fair companion, who,
having now removed her haick, laughed and talked gaily, telling me of
her exciting adventures as the child of a thieving band. Though she
would not utter Zoraida's name, she told me many curious things. She
had, it appeared, been in the camp of the Ennitra when, after the
successful attack on the caravan of Ali Ben Hafiz, I had been brought in
and sentenced to be tortured with the asp, and she told me how, after I
had escaped, Hadj Absalam had sworn vengeance and sent a force after me.
This force it was who subsequently attacked the Spahis and was
slaughtered by them.
"And why art thou here, so far from thy mountain home?" I asked
presently, determined if possible to elucidate some of the tantalising
mystery which seemed ever increasing.
"I travelled alone to Agadez to arrange with Hamma to effect thy
liberty," she answered. "Allah, the One Gracious and Merciful, hath
preserved thee, while he who dared to enter the Fada fell under the
janissaries' swords."
"Allah grant his soul peace!" I said, adding fervently, "I am truly
thankful to thee. Thou art indeed brave to risk so much, to accomplish
this lonely journey, and to trust thyself upon this lonely path."
"A woman of the Ennitra knoweth not fear," she answered proudly. Then,
with a calm, serious look, she added, "I am the servant of one who could
not travel here in person. Allah directeth whom He pleaseth and casteth
the unbeliever into the torments of hell. To-day thou standest upon the
pinnacle of Al Araf, the partition which divideth everlasting joy from
eternal sorrow. Already the test hath been applied to thee, and it hath
been proved that thou art the Amin--the Well-Beloved."
"Thou knowest the ordeal through which I am passing with feet treading
the unknown paths of ignorance where the light of truth shineth not.
Canst thou not give me one word of hope as to the successful
accomplishment of the mission that hath been entrusted to me?" I asked,
rather surprised at her enigmatical speech.
"I give thee no empty word of confidence. Thine own courage and stout
heart in this strange land wherein thou art wandering will, in itself,
prove a test the severity of which will not be forgotten. Peace be upon
us, and upon all righteous servants of Allah!"
With this last sentiment I expressed devout concurrence, and under the
foliage reddened by the crimson afterglow we wended our way onward until
we came to a small rivulet, where we halted, watered our horses, and
prepared our food. Then, when it had grown dark, my fair guide,
wrapping herself in the burnouse she had worn when I first met her, lay
down to rest, arranging herself in a manner which showed her to be a
true Bedouin to whom sleeping under the starlit canopy of heaven was no
fresh experience.
Next day and the day following went by in a similar manner, with the
exception that, having passed through the forest, we found ourselves on
the edge of the oasis, and with our horses well pleased at the freedom,
we galloped out straight as an arrow into the wild, inhospitable
wilderness, which stretched away as far as the eye could discern, a
great arid, barren plain. She sat her horse splendidly, as side by side
we rode onward hour after hour, stopping now and then to drink from our
water-skins, yet not once did she complain of the terrible burning heat
or fatigue. On the contrary, there was always in her dark sparkling
eyes a roguishness that is the peculiar charm of all Oriental women, and
she entertained me with many stories of the valour and chivalry of her
tribesmen. That night we encamped in the desert, and at dawn on the
third day moved onward again towards our unknown goal.
An hour before sundown she suddenly drew rein, and, shading her eyes
with her little sun-tanned hand, cried--
"Behold! They are within sight!"
Straining my aching eyes in the direction indicated, I saw in the far
distance a small speck against the horizon, which proved, on our
approach, to be a clump of palms, and almost as soon as I had been able
to make them out, I noticed that we had been observed, and that a
Bedouin horseman in white burnouse was spurring out towards us.
In half an hour we met. As he came nearer, there appeared something
about him that seemed to me familiar, and when at last he galloped up,
amid the jingling of his horse's trappings, holding his rifle high above
his head, I recognised his dark evil face.
It was the rascally caitiff Labakan, who had followed me so suspiciously
from Algiers, and against whom the dispatch-bearer Gajere had forewarned
me! The man who gave me greeting was the sinister, villainous-looking
outlaw who had stolen the cut-off hand!