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."
CHAPTER LV.
TWO FAITHFUL WIVES.
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 of
_sangleh_.
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.
The _sangleh_ was 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 so
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