Golah's fear of the Arabs met by the well had not been without a cause. His forced night march, to avoid meeting them again, had not secured the object for which it had been made.
Approaching from the direction of the rising sun, the Arabs had not been discovered in the distance; and Golah, occupied in overcoming the obstinate resistance of the white slaves, had allowed them to come quite near before they had been observed by him.
Leaving his captives, the sheik seized his musket; and, followed by his son and brother-in-law, rushed forward to protect his wives and property.
He was too late. Before he could reach them they were in the possession of others; and as he drew near the spot where they had been captured, he saw a dozen muskets presented towards himself, and heard some one loudly commanding him, in the name of the Prophet, to approach in peace!
Golah had the discretion to yield to a destiny that could not be averted,—the misfortune of being made a prisoner and plundered at the same time.
Calmly saying, "It is the will of God," he sat down, and invited his captors to a conference on the terms of capitulation.
As soon as the caravan had fallen into the possession of the robbers, the Krooman's hands were unbound by his companion, and he hastened to the relief of the white slaves.
"Golah no our massa now," said he, while untying Harry's wrists; "our massa is Arab dat take us norf. We get free. Dat why dis Arab no buy us,—he know us he hab for noting."
The cords were quickly untied, and the attention of the others was now turned to disinterring Colin and the woman from their living graves.
To do this, Harry wanted to use the water-bowl the sheik had left for the purpose of tantalizing his victims with the sight of its contents.
"Here, drink this water," said he, holding the vessel to Colin's lips. "I want to make use of the dish."
"No, no; dig me out without that," answered Colin. "Leave the water as it is; I have a particular use for it when I get free. I wish the old sheik to see me drink it."
Bill, Harry, and the Krooman set to work: and Colin and the woman were soon uncovered and dragged out. Terence was then awakened to consciousness by a few drops of the water poured over his face.
Owing to the cramped position in which he had been placed and so long held, Colin was for a few minutes unable to walk. They waited, to give him time to recover the use of his limbs. The slave who had the care of the woman's children was now seen coming back with them, and the woman ran to meet him.
The delight of the wretched mother at again embracing her offspring was so great, that the gentle-souled Krooman was once more affected to tears.
In the conference with the Arab robbers, Golah was unable to obtain the terms he fancied a sheik should be entitled to.
They offered him two camels and the choice of one wife out of the three, on condition he should go back to his own country, and return to the desert no more.
These terms Golah indignantly refused, and declared that he would rather die in defence of his rights.
Golah was a pure negro, and one of a class of traders much disliked by the Arabs. He was a lawless intruder on their grounds,—a trespasser upon their special domain, the Great Desert. He had just acquired a large amount of wealth in goods and slaves, that had been cast on their coast; and these they were determined he should not carry back with him to his own country.
Though he was as much a robber as themselves, they had no sympathies with him, and would not be satisfied with merely a share of his plunder. They professed to understand all his doings in the past; and accused him of not being afair trader!
They told him that he never came upon the desert with merchandise to exchange, but only with camels, to be driven away, laden with property justly belonging to them, the real owners of the land.
They denied his being a true believer in the Prophet; and concluded their talk by declaring that he should be thankful for the liberal terms they had offered him.
Golah's opposition to their proposal became so demonstrative, that the Arabs were obliged to disarm and bind him; though this was not accomplished without a fierce struggle, in which several of his adversaries were overthrown.
A blow on the head with the stock of a musket at length reduced him to subjection, after which his hands were fast tied behind his back.
During the struggle, Golah's son was prevented from interfering in behalf of his father, by the black slaves who had been so long the victims of his cruel care; while the brother-in-law, as well as Fatima and the third wife, remained passive spectators of the scene.
On Golah being secured, the white slaves, with old Bill at their head, came up and voluntarily surrendered themselves to their new masters.
Colin had in his hands the bowl of water, and the dried figs that had been placed beside it.
Advancing towards Golah, he held the figs up before his eyes, and then, with a nod and an expression that seemed to say, "Thank you for this," he raised the bowl to his lips with the intention of drinking.
The expression on the sheik's features became Satanic, but suddenly changed into a glance of pleasure, as one of the Arabs snatched the vessel out of Colin's hands, and instantly drank off its contents.
Colin received the lesson meekly, and said not a word.
The Arabs speedily commenced making arrangements for leaving the place. The first move was to establish a communication between Golah and the saddle of one of his camels.
This was accomplished by using a rope as a medium; and the black giant was compelled to walk after the animal with his hands tied behind him,—in the same fashion as he had lately set for Sailor Bill.
His wives and slaves seemed to comprehend the change in their fortunes, and readily adapted their conduct to the circumstances.
The greatest transformation of all was observable in the behavior of the favorite Fatima.
Since his capture she had kept altogether aloof from her late lord, and showed not the slightest sympathy for his misfortunes.
By her actions she seemed to say: "The mighty Golah has fallen, and is no longer worthy of my distinguished regard."
Very different was the behavior of the woman whom the cruel sheik would have left to die a lingering death. Her husband's misfortune seemed to have awakened within her a love for the father of her children: and her features, as she gazed upon the captive,—who, although defeated, was unsubdued in spirit,—wore a mingled expression of pity and grief.
Hungry, thirsty, weary and bleeding—enslaved on the Great Desert, still uncertain of what was to be their fate, and doubtful of surviving much longer the hardships they might be forced to endure—our adventurers were far from being happy; but, with all their misery, they felt joyful when comparing their present prospects with those before them but an hour ago.
With the exception of Golah, the Arabs had no trouble with their captives. The white and black slaves knew they were travelling towards the well; and the prospect of again having plenty of water was sufficient inducement to make them put forth all their strength in following the camels.
Early in the evening a short halt was made; when each of the company was served with about half a pint of water from the skins. The Arabs, expecting to reach the well soon after, could afford to be thus liberal; but the favor so granted, though thankfully received by the slaves was scornfully refused by their late master—the giant bodied and strong-minded Golah.
To accept of food and drink from his enemies in his present humiliating position—bound and dragged along like a slave—was a degradation to which he scorned to submit.
On Golah contemptuously refusing the proffered cup of water, the Arab who offered it simply ejaculated, "Thank God!" and then drank it himself.
The well was reached about an hour after midnight; and after quenching their thirst, the slaves were allowed to go to rest and sleep,—a privilege they stood sorely in need of having been over thirty hours afoot, upon their cheerless and arduous journey.
On waking up the next morning, our adventurers were gratified with a bit of intelligence communicated by the Krooman: that they were to have a day of rest. A camel was also to be killed for food.
The Arabs were going to divide amongst themselves the slaves taken from Golah; and the opportunity was not to be lost of recruiting their strength for a long journey.
As Sailor Bill reflected upon their sufferings since leaving that same place two days before, he expressed regret that they had not been captured before leaving the well, and thus spared the horrors they had endured.
Stimulated by the remembrance of so much suffering needlessly incurred, he asked the Krooman to explain the conduct of their new masters.
The Krooman's first attempt at satisfying his curiosity was to state, that the Arabs had acted after a manner peculiar to themselves,—in other words, that it was "a way they had."
The old sailor was not satisfied with this answer; and pressed for a further explanation.
He was then told that the robbers on the desert were always in danger of meeting several caravans at a watering-place; and that any act of violence committed there would bring upon the perpetrators everlasting disgrace, as well as the enmity of all desert travellers. The Krooman explained himself by saying, that should a caravan of a hundred men arrive at the well, they would not now interfere in behalf of Golah, but would only recognize him as a slave. On the contrary, had they found him engaged in actual strife with the robbers they would have assisted him.
This was satisfactory to all but Bill. Even Colin, who had been buried alive, and Terence, who had been so unmercifully beaten, were pleased at their change of masters on any terms; but the old sailor, sailor-like, would not have been himself without some cause of complaint.
Before their newly acquired wealth could be divided, the Arabs had to come to some resolution as to the disposal of the black sheik; who still remained so unmanageable that he had to be kept bound, with a guard placed over him.
The Arabs could not agree amongst themselves as to what should be done with him. Some of them urged that, despite the color of his skin, he might be a true believer in the Prophet; and that, notwithstanding his manner of trading and acquiring wealth—a system nearly as dishonest as their own—he was entitled to his liberty, with a certain portion of his property.
Others claimed that they had a perfect right to add him and his large family to the number of their slaves.
He was not an Arab, but an Ethiopian, like most of his following; and, as a slave, would bring a high price in any of the markets where men were bought and sold.
Those who argued thus were in the minority; and Golah was at length offered his wives and their children, with a couple of camels and his scimitar.
This offer the black sheik indignantly refused,—much to the astonishment of those who had been so eloquent in his behalf.
His decision produced another debate; in which the opinions of several of his captors underwent such a change, that it was finally determined to consider him as one of the slaves.
Every article that had been obtained from the wreck was now exposed to view, and a fixed price set upon it.
The slaves were carefully examined and valued,—as well as the camels, muskets, and everything that had belonged to Golah or his dependants.
When these preliminary arrangements had been completed, the Arabs proceeded to an equitable partition of the property.
This proved a very difficult matter to manage, and occupied their time for the rest of the day. Three or four would covet the same article; and long and noisy discussions would take place before the dispute could be settled to their mutual satisfaction.
The Krooman, who understood the desert language, was attentive to all that transpired; and from time to time informed the white slaves of what was being done.
At an early period in the discussions, he discovered that each of the four was to fall to different masters.
"You and me," said he to Harry, "we no got two massas—only one."
His words were soon after proved to be true. They were carried apart from each other, evidently with the designs of being appropriated by different owners; and the fear that they might also be separated again came over them.
When the slaves, camels, tents, and articles that had been gathered from the wreck were distributed amongst the eleven Arabs, each one took the charge of his own; but there still remained Golah, his wives and their children, to be disposed of.
No one seemed desirous of becoming the owner of the black sheik and his wives. Even those who had said that he would make a valuable slave, appeared unwilling to take him, although induced to do so by the taunts of their companions.
The fact was, that they were afraid of him. He would be too difficult to manage; and none of them wished to be the master of one who obstinately refused both food and drink, and who so defiantly invoked upon the heads of his captors the curse of Mahomet, and swore by the beard of the Prophet that the moment his hands were free, he would kill the man who should dare to own or claim him as a slave.
Golah, with all his faults, was neither cunning nor deceitful, and, having a spirit too great to affect submission, he did not intend to yield.
He was arrogant, cruel, avaricious, and vindictive; but the wrongs he did were always accomplished in a plain, open-handed way, and never by stratagem or treachery.
By accepting the terms the Arabs had offered him, his strength, courage, and unconquerable will might afterwards have enabled him to obtain revenge upon his captors, and regain a portion of his property; but it was not in his nature to sham submission, even for the sake of gaining a future advantage.
As not one of the Arabs was willing to accept of him, at the value at which he had been appraised, or to allow another to have him for less, it was finally decided that he should be retained as the common property of all, until he could be sold to some other tribe, when a distribution might be made of the proceeds of the sale. His wives and children were to be disposed of in like manner.
This arrangement was satisfactory to all but Golah himself, who expressed himself greatly displeased with it. Nevertheless, he seemed a little disposed to yield to circumstances; for, soon after the decision of his captors was made known to him, he called to Fatima, and commanded her to bring him a bowl of water.
The favorite refused, under the plea that she had been forbidden to give him anything.
This was true; for, as he had declined to accept of anything at the hands of those claiming to be his masters, they had determined to starve him into submission.
Fatima's refusal to obey him caused Golah his greatest chagrin. Ever accustomed to prompt and slavish obedience from others, the idea of his own wife—his favorite too—denying his modest request, almost drove him frantic.
"I am your husband," he cried, "and whom should you obey but me? Fatima! I command you to bring me some water!"
"And I command you not to do it," said the Arab sheik, who, standing near by, had heard the order.
Fatima was an artful, selfish woman, who had gained some influence over her husband by flattering his vanity, and professing a love she had never felt.
She had acted with slavish obedience to him when he was all-powerful; but now that he was himself a slave, her submission had been transferred with perfect facility to the chief of the band who had captured him.
It was now that Golah began to realize the fact that he was a conquered man.
His heart was nearly bursting with rage, shame, and disappointment; for nothing could so plainly awaken him to the comprehension of his real position, as the fact that Fatima, his favorite, she who had ever professed for him so much love and obedience, now refused to attend to his simplest request.
After making one more violent and ineffectual effort at breaking his bonds, he sank down upon the earth and remained silent—bitterly contemplating the degraded condition into which he had fallen.
The Krooman, who was a very sharp observer of passing events, and had an extensive knowledge of peculiar specimens of human nature, closely watched the behavior of the black sheik.
"He no like us," he remarked to the whites. "He nebba be slave. Bom-by you see him go dead."
While Golah's mind appeared to be stunned almost to unconsciousness by the refusal of Fatima to obey his orders, his other two wives were moving about, as if engaged in some domestic duty.
Presently the woman he had buried in the sand was seen going towards him with a calabash of water, followed by the other who carried a dish ofsangleh.
One of the Arabs perceiving their intention, ran up, and, in an angry tone, commanded them to retire to their tents. The two women persisted in their design, and in order to prevent them, without using violence, the Arab offered to serve the food and drink himself.
This they permitted him to do; but when the water was offered to Golah it was again refused.
The black sheik would not receive either food or drink from the hand of a master.
Thesanglehwas then consumed by the Arab with a real or sham profession of gratitude; the water was poured into a bucket, and given to one of the camels; and the two calabashes were returned to the women.
Neither a keen longing for food, nor a burning thirst for water, could divert Golah's thoughts from the contemplation of something that was causing his soul extreme anguish.
His physical tortures seemed, for the time, extinguished by some deep mental agony.
Again the wives—the unloved ones—advanced towards him, bearing water and food; and again the Arab stepped forward to intercept them. The two women persisted in their design, and, while opposing the efforts of the Arab to turn them back, they called on the two youths, the relatives of the black sheik, as also on Fatima, to assist them.
Of the three persons thus appealed to, only Golah's son obeyed their summons; but his attempt to aid the women was immediately frustrated by the Arab, who claimed him as a slave, and who now commanded him to stand aside. His command having no effect, the Arab proceeded to use force. At the risk of his life the youth resisted. He dared to use violence against a master—a crime that on the desert demands the punishment of death.
Aroused from his painful reverie by the commotion going on around him, Golah, seeing the folly of the act, shouted to his son to be calm, and yield obedience; but the youth, not heeding the command of his father, continued his resistance. He was just on the point of being cut down, when the Krooman ran forward, and pronouncing in Arabic two words signifying "father and son," saved the youth's life. The Arab robber had sufficient respect for the relationship to stay his hand from committing murder; but to prevent any further trouble with the young fellow, he was seized by several others, fast bound, and flung to the ground by the side of his father.
The two women, still persisting in their design to relieve the wants of their unfortunate husband, were then knocked down, kicked, beaten, and finally dragged inside the tents.
This scene was witnessed by Fatima; who, instead of showing sympathy, appeared highly amused by it,—so much so as even to give way to laughter! Her unnatural behavior once more roused the indignation of her husband.
The wrong of being robbed—the humiliation of being bound—the knowledge that he himself, along with his children, would be sold into slavery—the torture of hunger and thirst—were sources of misery no longer heeded by him; all were forgotten in the contemplation of a far greater anguish.
Fatima, the favorite, the woman to whom his word should have been law,—the woman who had always pretended to think him something more than mortal,—now not only shunning but despising him in the midst of his misfortunes!
This knowledge did more towards subduing the giant than all his other sufferings combined.
"Old Golah looks very down in the mouth," remarked Terence to his companions. "If it was not for the beating he gave me yesterday, I could almost pity him. I made an oath, at the time he was thwacking me with the ramrod, that if my hands were ever again at liberty, I'd see if it was possible to kill him; but now that they are free, and his are bound, I've not the heart to touch him, bad as he is."
"That is right, Terry," said Bill; "it's only wimin an' bits o' boys as throws wather on a drowned rat,—not as I mane to say the owld rascal is past mischief yet. I believe he'll do some more afore the Devil takes 'im intirely; but I mane that Him as sits up aloft is able to do His own work without your helping Him."
"You speak truth, Bill," said Harry; "I don't think there is any necessity for seeking revenge of Golah for his cruel treatment of us; he is now as ill off as the rest of us."
"What is that you say?" inquired Colin. "Golah like one of us? Nothing of the kind. He has more pluck, endurance, obstinacy, and true manly spirit about him than there is in the four of us combined."
"Was his attempt to starve you dictated by a manly spirit?" asked Harry.
"Perhaps not, but it was the fault of the circumstances under which he has been educated. I don't think of that now; my admiration of the man is too strong. Look at his refusing that drink of water when it had been several times offered him!"
"There is something wonderful about him, certainly," assented Harry; "but I don't see anything in him to admire."
"No more do I," said Bill. "He might be as comfortable now as we are; and I say a man's a fool as won't be 'appy when he can."
"What you call his folly," rejoined Colin, "is but a noble pride that makes him superior to any of us. He has a spirit that will not submit to slavery, and we have not."
"That be truth," remarked the Krooman; "Golah nebbar be slave."
Colin was right. By accepting food and drink from his captors, the black sheik might have satisfied the demands of mere animal nature, but only at the sacrifice of all that was noble in his nature. His self-respect, along with the proud, unyielding spirit by which everything good and great is accomplished, would have been gone from him for ever.
Sailor Bill and his companions, the boy slaves, had been taught from childhood to yield to circumstances, and still retain some moral feeling; but Golah had not.
The only thing he could yield to adverse fate washis life.
At this moment the Krooman, by a gesture, called their attention towards the captive sheik, at the same time giving utterance to a sharp ejaculation.
"Look!" exclaimed he, "Golah no stay longer on de Saära. You him see soon die now—look at him!"
At the same instant Golah had risen to his feet, inviting his Arab master to a conference.
"There is but one God," said he, "Mahomet is his prophet; and I am his servant. I will never be a slave. Give me one wife, a camel, and my scimitar, and I will go. I have been robbed; but God is great, and it is his will, and my destiny."
Golah had at length yielded, though not because that he suffered for food and water; not that he feared slavery or death; not that his proud spirit had become weak or given way; but rather that it had grown stronger under the prompting ofRevenge.
The Arab sheik conferred with his followers; and there arose a brief controversy among them.
The trouble they had with their gigantic captive, the difficulty they anticipated in disposing of him, and their belief that he was a good Mussulman, were arguments in favor of granting his request, and setting him at liberty.
It was therefore decided to let him go—on the condition of his taking his departure at once.
Golah consented; and they proceeded to untie his hands. While this was being done, the Krooman ran up to Colin's master, and cautioned him to protect his slave, until the sheik had departed.
This warning was unnecessary, for Golah had other and more serious thoughts to engage his mind than that of any animosity he might once have felt against the young Scotchman.
"I am free," said Golah, when his hands were untied. "We are equals, and Mussulmen. I claim your hospitality. Give me some food and drink."
He then stepped forward to the well, and quenched his thirst, after which some boiled camel meat was placed before him.
While he was appeasing an appetite that had been two days in gaining strength, Fatima, who had observed a strange expression in his eyes, appeared to be in great consternation. She had believed him doomed to a life of slavery, if not to death; and this belief had influenced her in her late actions.
Gliding up to the Arab sheik, she entreated to be separated from her husband; but the only answer she received was, that Golah should have either of the three wives he chose to take; that he (the sheik) and his companions were men of honor, who would not break the promise they had given.
A goat-skin of water, some barley meal, for makingsangleh, and a few other necessary articles, were placed on a camel, which was delivered over to Golah.
The black sheik then addressed a few words in some African language to his son; and, calling Fatima to follow him, he started off across the desert.
A complete change had come over the fortunes of Fatima. Vain, cruel, and tyrannical but the moment before, she was now humbled to the dust of the desert. In place of commanding her fellow wives, she now approached them with entreaties, begging them to take charge of her child, which she seemed determined to leave behind her. Both willingly assented to her wishes.
Our adventurers were puzzled by this circumstance, for there appeared to be no reason that Fatima should leave her offspring behind her. Even the Krooman could not explain it; and as the shades of night descended over the desert, the mother separated from her child, perhaps never more to embrace it in this world of wickedness and woe.
About two hours before daybreak, on the morning after the departure of Golah, there was an alarm in the douar, which created amongst the Arabs a wonderful excitement.
The man who had been keeping guard over the camp was not to be seen; and one of the fleetest camels, as well as a swift desert horse, was also gone.
The slaves were instantly mustered, when it was found that one of them was likewise missing. It was Golah's son.
His absence accounted for the loss of the camel, and perhaps the horse, but what had become of the Arab guard?
He certainly would not have absconded with the slave, for he had left valuable property behind him.
There was no time for exchanging surmises over this mystery. Pursuit must be instantly made for the recovery of slave, camel, and horse.
The Arab sheik detailed four of his followers to this duty, and they hastened to make ready for their departure. They would start as soon as the light of day should enable them to see the course the missing animals had taken.
All believed that the fugitives would have to be sought for in a southerly direction; and therefore the caravan would have to be further delayed in its journey.
While making preparations for the pursuit, another unpleasant discovery was made. Two ship's muskets, that had been taken from Golah's party were also missing.
They had been extracted from a tent in which two of the Arabs had slept,—two of the four who were now preparing to search for the missing property.
The sheik became alarmed. The camp seemed full of traitors; and yet, as the guns were the private property of the two men who slept in the tent, they could not, for losing them, reasonably be accused of anything more than stupidity.
Contrary to the anticipations of all, the tracks of the lost animals were found to lead off in a north-westerly direction; and at about two hundred yards from the camp a dark object was seen lying upon the ground. On examination it proved to be the Arab who had been appointed night-guard over the douar.
He was stone dead; and by his side lay one of the missing muskets, with the stock broken, and covered with his own brains.
The tragedy was not difficult to be explained. The man had seen one or two of the hoppled animals straying from the camp. Not thinking that they were being led gently away, he had, without giving any alarm, gone out to bring them back. Golah's son, who was leading them off, by keeping concealed behind one of the animals, had found an opportunity of giving the guard his death-blow, without any noise to disturb the slumbering denizens of the douar.
No doubt he had gone to rejoin his father, and the adroit manner in which he had made his departure, taking with him a musket, a camel, and a horse, not only excited the wonder, but the admiration of those from whom he had stolen them.
In the division of the slaves, young Harry Blount and the Krooman had become the property of the Arab sheik. The Krooman having some knowledge of the Arabic language, soon established himself in the good opinion of his new master. While the Arabs were discussing the most available mode to obtain revenge for the murder of their companion, as well as to regain possession of the property they had lost, the Krooman, skilled in Golah's character, volunteered to assist them by a little advice.
Pointing to the south, he suggested to them that, by going in that direction, they would certainly see or hear something of Golah and his son.
The sheik could the more readily believe this, since the country of the black chief lay to the southward, and Golah, on leaving the douar, had gone in that direction.
"But why did his dog of a son not go south?" inquired the Arabs, pointing to the tracks of the stolen horse, which still appeared to lead towards the northwest.
"If you go north," replied the Krooman, "you will be sure to see Golah; or if you stay here, you will learn something of him?"
"What! will he be in both directions at the same time, and here likewise?"
"No, not that; but he will follow you."
The Arabs were willing to believe that there was a chance of recovering their property on the road they had been intending to follow, especially as the stolen horse and camel had been taken in that direction.
They determined, therefore, to continue their journey.
Too late they perceived their folly in treating Golah as they had done. He was now beyond their reach, and, in all likelihood, had been rejoined by his son. He was an enemy against whom they would have to keep a constant watch; and the thought of this caused the old Arab sheik to swear by the Prophet's beard that he would never again show mercy to a man whom he had plundered.
For about an hour after resuming their march, the footprints of the camel could be traced in the direction they wished to go; but gradually they became less perceptible, until at length they were lost altogether. A smart breeze had been blowing, which had filled the tracks with sand, which was light and easily disturbed.
Trusting to chance, and still with some hope of recovering the stolen property, they continued on in the same direction, and, not long after losing the tracks, they found some fresh evidence that they were going the right way.
The old sheik, who was riding in advance of the others, on looking to the right, perceived an object on the sand that demanded a closer inspection. He turned and rode towards it, closely followed by the people of his party.
On drawing near to the object it proved to be the body of a human being, lying back upwards, and yet with the face turned full towards the heavens. The features were at once recognized as those of Fatima, the favorite!
The head of the unfortunate woman had been severed from her body, and then placed contiguous to it, with the face in an inverted position.
The ghastly spectacle was instructive. It proved that Golah, although going off southward, must have turned back again, and was now not far off, hovering about the track he believed his enemies would be likely to take. His son, moreover, was, in all likelihood, along with him.
When departing along with her husband, Fatima had probably anticipated the terrible fate that awaited her; and, for that reason, had left her child in the care of the other wives.
Neither of these seemed in the least surprised on discovering the body. Both had surmised that such would be Fatima's fate; and it was for that reason they had so willingly taken charge of her child.
The caravan made a short halt, which was taken advantage of by the two women to cover the body with sand.
The journey was then resumed.
Notwithstanding that Golah's brother-in-law, who had formerly been a freeman, was now a slave, he seemed well satisfied with the change in his circumstances.
He made himself very useful to his new masters in looking after the camel, and doing all the other necessary work which his knowledge of Saäran life enabled him effectually to execute.
When the Arab caravan came to a halt on the evening of his first day's journey along with it, he assisted in unloading the camels, putting the hopples on them, pitching the tents, and doing anything else which was required to be done.
While the other slaves were eating the small portion of food allowed them, one of the camels formerly belonging to Golah—a young and fleet maherry that had been ridden by Fatima, strayed a short distance from the douar. Seeing it the black sheik's brother-in-law, who had been making himself so useful, ran after the animal as if to fetch it back. He was seen passing beyond the camel, as though he intended turning it toward the camp; but in another instant it was discovered that he had no such design. The youth was seen to spring to the back of the maherry, lay hold of its hump, and ride rapidly away. Accustomed to hearing the sound of his voice, the faithful and intelligent animal obeyed his words of command. Its neck was suddenly craned out towards the north; and its feet were flung forward in long strides that bore its rider rapidly away from the rest. The incident caused a tremendous commotion in the caravan. It was so wholly unexpected, that none of the Arabs were prepared to intercept the fugitive. The guard for the night had not been appointed. They were all seated on the ground, engaged in devouring their evening repast, and before a musket could be discharged at the runaway, he had got so far into the glimmering twilight that the only effect of two or three shots fired after him was to quicken the pace of the maherry on which he was fleeing.
Two fleet horses were instantly saddled and mounted, one by the owner of the camel that had been stolen, and the other by the owner of the slave who had stolen it.
Each, arming himself with musket and scimitar, felt sure of recapturing the runaway. Their only doubt arose from the knowledge of the swiftness of the maherry, and that its rider was favored by the approaching darkness.
The whole encampment was by this time under arms and after the departure of the pursuers, the sheik gathered all the slaves together, and swore by the beard of the Prophet that they should all be killed, and that he would set the example by killing the two belonging to himself, which were Harry Blount and the Krooman. Several of his followers proceeded to relieve their excitement by each beating the slave or slaves that were his own property, and amongst these irate slave-owners was the master of Sailor Bill. The old man-o-war's-man was cudgelled till his objections to involuntary servitude were loudly expressed, and in the strongest terms that English, Scotch, and Irish could furnish for the purpose.
When the rage of the old sheik had to some extent subsided, he procured a leathern thong, and declared that his two slaves should be fast bound, and never released as long as they remained in his possession.
"Talk to him," exclaimed Harry to the Krooman; "tell him, in his own language, that God is great, and that he is a fool! We don't wish to escape,—certainly not at present."
Thus counselled, the Krooman explained to the sheik that the white slaves, as well as himself, who had sailed in English ships, had no intention of running away, but wished to be taken north, where they might be ransomed; and that they were not such fools as to part from him in a place where they would certainly starve. The Krooman also informed the sheik that they were all very glad at being taken out of the hands of Golah, who would have carried them to Timbuctoo, whence they never could have returned, but must have ended their days in slavery.
While the Krooman was talking to the sheik, several of the others came up and listened. The black further informed them that the white slaves had friends living in Agadeer and Swearah (Santa Cruz and Mogador),—friends who would pay a large price to ransom them. Why, then, should they try to escape while journeying towards the place where those friends were living?
The Krooman went on to say that the young man who had just made off was Golah's brother-in-law; that, unlike themselves, in going north he would not be seeking freedom but perpetual slavery, and for that reason he had gone to rejoin Golah and his son.
This explanation seemed so reasonable to the Arabs, that their fears for the safety of their slaves soon subsided, and the latter were permitted to repose in peace.
As a precautionary measure, however, two men were kept moving in a circle around the douar throughout the whole of the night; but no disturbance arose, and morning returned without bringing back the two men who had gone in pursuit of the cunning runaway.
The distance to the next watering-place was too great to admit of any delay being made; and the journey was resumed, in the hope that the two missing men would be met on the way.
This hope was realized.
All along the route the old sheik, who rode in advance, kept scanning the horizon, not only ahead, but to the right and left of their course. About ten miles from their night's halting-place he was seen to swerve suddenly from his course, and advance towards something that had attracted his attention. His followers hastened after him,—all except the two women and their children, who lingered a long way behind.
Lying on the ground, their bodies contiguous to each other, were the two Arabs who had gone in pursuit of the runaway.
They were both dead.
One of them had been shot with a musket ball that had penetrated his skull, entering directly between his temples. The other had been cut down with a scimitar, his body being almost severed in twain.
The youth who had fled the night before, had evidently come up with Golah and his son; and the two men who had pursued him had lost their lives, their animals, muskets, and scimitars.
Golah now had two accomplices, and the three were well mounted and well armed.
The anger of the Arabs was frightful to behold. They turned towards the two women whom they knew to be Golah's wives. The latter had thrown themselves on their knees and were screaming and supplicating for mercy.
Some of the Arabs would have killed them on the instant; but were prevented by the old sheik, who, although himself wild with rage, had still sufficient reason left to tell him that the unfortunate women were not answerable for the acts of their husband. Our adventurers found reason to regret the misfortune that had befallen their new masters; for they could not but regard with alarm the returning power of Golah.
"We shall fall into his hands again," exclaimed Terence. "He will kill all these Arabs one after another, and obtain all he has lost, ourselves included. We shall yet be driven to Timbuctoo."
"Then we should deserve it," cried Harry, "for it will partly be our own fault, if ever we fall into Golah's power again."
"I don't think so," said Bill, "Golah is a wondersome man, and as got somethin' more nor human natur' to 'elp 'im. I think as 'ow if we should see 'im 'alf a mile off, signalizin' for us to follow 'im, we should 'ave to go. I've tried my hand at disobeyin' his orders, and don't do it again,—not if I knows it."
The expressions of anger hitherto portrayed on the countenances of the Arabs, had given place to those of anxiety. They knew that an enemy was hovering around them,—an enemy whom they had wronged,—whose power they had undervalued, and whom they had foolishly restored to liberty.
The bodies of their companions were hastily interred in the sand, and their journey northward was once more resumed.
The sufferings of the slaves for water and food again commenced, while the pace at which they were compelled to travel, to keep up with the camels, soon exhausted the little strength they had acquired from the rest by the well.
During the long afternoon following the burial of the two Arabs, each of the boy slaves at different times declared his utter inability to proceed any farther.
They were mistaken; and had yet to learn something of the power which love of life exerts over the body.
They knew that to linger behind would be death. They did not desire to die, and therefore struggled on.
Like men upon a treadmill, they were compelled to keep on moving, although neither able nor willing.
The hour of sunset found them wading through sand that had lately been stirred by a storm. It was nearly as light and loose as snow; and the toil of moving through it was so wearisome, that the mounted Arabs, having some pity on those who had walked, halted early for the night. Two men were appointed to guard the camp in the same manner as upon the night before; and with the feelings of hunger and thirst partly appeased, weary with the toils of day, our adventurers were soon in a sound slumber. Around them, and half-buried in the soft sand, lay stretched the other denizens of the douar, all slumbering likewise.
Their rest remained undisturbed until that darkest hour of the night, just before the dawning of day. They were then startled from sleep by the report of a musket,—a report that was immediately followed by another in the opposite direction. The douar was instantly in wild confusion.
The Arabs seized their weapons, and rushed forth from among the tents.
One of the party that ran in the direction in which the first shot was heard, seeing a man coming towards them, in the excitement of the moment fired his musket, and shot the individual who was advancing, who proved to be one of those entrusted with the guard of the camp.
No enemies could be discovered. They had fled, leaving the two camp-guards in the agonies of death.
Some of the Arabs would have rushed wildly hither and thither, in search of the unseen foe, but were prevented by the sheik, who, fearing that all would be lost, should the douar be deserted by the armed men, shouted the signal for all his followers to gather around him.
The two wounded men were brought into a tent, where, in a few minutes, one of them—the man who had been shot by one of his companions—breathed his last. He had also received a wound from the first shot that had been heard, his right arm having been shattered by a musket-ball.
The spine of the other guard had been broken by a bullet, so that recovery was clearly impossible.
He had evidently heard the first shot fired at his companion from the opposite side of the camp: and was turning his back upon the foe that had attacked himself.
The light of day soon shone upon the scene, and they were able to perceive how their enemies had approached so near the camp without being observed.
About a hundred paces from where the guards had been standing at the time the first two shots were fired, was a furrow or ravine running through the soft sand.
This ravine branched into two lesser ones, including within their angle the Arab camp, as also the sentinels stationed to guard it.
Up the branches the midnight murderers had silently stolen, each taking a side; and in this way had got within easy distance of the unsuspecting sentries.
In the bottom of one of the furrows, where the sand was more firmly compacted, was found the impression of human footsteps.
The tracks had been made by some person hurriedly leaving the spot.
"Dis be de track ob Golah," said the Krooman to Harry, after he had examined it. "He made um when runnin' 'way after he fire da musket."
"Very likely," said Harry; "but how do you know it is Golah's track?"
"'Cause Golah hab largess feet in all de world, and no feet but his make dat mark."
"I tell you again," said Terence, who overheard the Krooman's remark, "we shall have to go with Golah to Timbuctoo. We belong to him. These Arabs are only keeping us for a few days, but they will all be killed yet, and we shall have to follow the black sheik in the opposite direction."
Harry made no reply to this prophetic speech. Certainly, there was a prospect of its proving true.
Four Arabs out of the eleven of which their party was originally composed, were already dead, while still another was dying!
Sailor Bill pronounced Golah, with his son and brother-in-law, quite a match for the six who were left. The black sheik, he thought, was equal to any four of their present masters in strength, cunning, and determination.
"But the Arabs have us to help them," remarked Colin. "We should count for something."
"So we do,—as merchandise," replied Harry; "we have hitherto been helpless as children in protecting ourselves. What can we do? The boasted superiority of our race or country cannot be true here in the desert. We are out of our element."
"Yes, that's sartain!" exclaimed Bill; "but we're not far from it. Shiver my timbers if I don't smell salt water. Be Jabers! if we go on towards the west we shall see the say afore night."
During this dialogue the Arabs were holding a consultation as to what they should do.
To divide the camp, and send some after their enemies, was pronounced impolitic: the party sent in pursuit, and that left to guard the caravan,—either would be too weak if attacked by their truculent enemy.
In union alone was strength, and they resolved to remain together, believing that they should have a visit from Golah again, while better prepared to receive him.
The footprints leading out from the two ravines were traced for about a mile in the direction they wished to follow.
The tracks of camels and horses were there found; and they could tell by the signs that their enemies had mounted and ridden off towards the west.
They possibly might have avoided meeting Golah again by going eastward; but, from their knowledge of the desert, no water was to be found in that direction in less than five days' journey.
Moreover, they did not yet wish to avoid him. They thirsted for revenge, and were impatient to move on; for a journey of two days was still before them before they could hope to arrive at the nearest water.
When every preparation had been made to resume their route, there was one obstacle in the way of their taking an immediate departure.
Their wounded companion was not yet defunct. They saw it would be impossible for him to live much longer; for the lower part of his body,—all below the shattered portion of the spine,—appeared already without life. A few hours at most would terminate his sufferings; but for the expiration of those few hours,—or minutes, as fate should decide,—his companions seemed unwilling to wait!
They dug a hole in the sand near where the wounded man was lying. This was but the work of a few minutes. As soon as the grave was completed, the eyes of all were once more turned upon the wretched sufferer.
He was still alive, and by piteous moans expressing the agony he was enduring.
"Bismillah!" exclaimed the old sheik, "why do you not die, my friend? We are waiting for the fulfilment of your destiny."
"I am dead," ejaculated the sufferer, speaking in a faint voice, and apparently with great difficulty.
Having said this, he relapsed into silence, and remained motionless as a corpse.
The sheik then placed one hand upon his temples. "Yes!" he exclaimed, "the words of our friend are those of truth and wisdom. He is dead."
The wounded man was then rolled into the cavity which had been scooped out, and they hastily proceeded to cover him with sand.
As they did so, his hands were repeatedly uplifted, while a low moaning came from his lips; but his movements were apparently unseen, and his cries of agony unnoticed!
His companions remained both deaf and blind to any evidence that might refute his own assertion that he was dead.
The sand was at length heaped up, so as completely to cover his body, when, by an order from the old sheik, his followers turned away from the spot and the Kafila moved on.
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 favorite 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 noonday 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 favorable 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 favor 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 any one 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 labored 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 Saära.
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 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 than any of his own people in guarding the camp against surprise."
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 from closing his eyes in sleep for a whole moon. There's no fear that he will betray us."
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 them 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 lookout 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 purposes sanguinary 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 Saära, 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 while 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 favor him, and with this reflection he steadily 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 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 gripe of the powerful hand clutching its hilt became more firm and determined.
Sailor Bill! has your promise to keep a sharp lookout been broken so soon?
Beware! Golah is near with strength in his arm, and murder in his mind!