e 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 involunt