that in the incident to make them apprehensive. The maherry
would not have gone off at such a gait, without some powerful motive to
impel it. Up to that moment it had shown no particular _penchant_ for
rapid travelling, but had been going, under their guidance, with a
steady, sober docility. Something must have attracted it towards the
interior. What could that something be, if not the knowledge that its
home, or its companions, were to be found in this direction?

This was the conjecture that came simultaneously into the minds of all
three,--as is known, the correct one.

There could be no doubt that their companion had been carried towards an
encampment; for no other kind of settlement could be thought of in such
a place. It was even a wonder that this could exist in the midst of a
dreary, wild expanse of pure sand, like that surrounding them. Perhaps,
thought they, there may be "land" towards the interior of the
country,--a spot of firm soil, with vegetation upon it; in short, an
_oasis_.

After their first surprise had partially subsided, they took counsel as
to their course. Should they stay where they were, and wait for Bill's
return? Or should they follow, in the hope of overtaking him?

Perhaps he might _not_ return. If carried into a camp of barbarous
savages, it was not likely that he would. He would be seized and held
captive to a dead certainty. But surely he would not be such a
simpleton, as to allow the maherry to transport him into the midst of
his enemies.

Again sprang up their surprise at his not having made an effort to
dismount.

For some ten or fifteen minutes the midshipmen stood hesitating,--their
eyes all the while bent on the moonlit opening, through which the
maherry had disappeared. There were no signs of anything in the
pass,--at least anything like either a camel or a sailor. Only the
bright beams of the moon glittering upon crystals of purest sand.

They thought they heard sounds,--the cries of quadrupeds mingling with
the voices of men. There were voices, too, of shriller intonation, that
might have proceeded from the throats of women.

Colin was confident he heard such. He was not contradicted by his
companions, who simply said, they could not be sure that they heard
anything.

But for the constant roar of the breakers,--rolling up almost to the
spot upon which they stood,--they would have declared themselves
differently; for at that moment there was a chorus being carried on a