aped undiscovered in the
darkness.

They had heard the voice of the father of their children, and understood
that accent of anguish in which he had called out the name of his son.

They were women,--women who, although dreading their tyrant husband in
his day of power, now pitied him in his hour of misfortune.

The Arabs, anxiously expecting the appearance of their enemy, in great
haste made ready to meet him; but they were left unmolested.

In a few minutes all was quiet: not a sound was heard in the vicinity of
the douar; and the late alarm might have appeared only a panic of
groundless fear.

The light of day was gradually gathering in the east when the Arab
sheik, recovering from his excitement, ventured to make an examination
of the douar and its denizens.

Two important facts presented themselves as evidence, that the fright
they had experienced was not without a cause. The sentry who had been
stationed to guard the camp on its southern side was not present, and
Golah's two wives and their children were also absent!

There could be no mystery about the disappearance of the women. They had
gone to rejoin the man whose voice had been heard calling "Muley."

But where was the Arab sentry? Had another of the party fallen a victim
to the vengeance of Golah?

CHAPTER LXII.

GOLAH FULFILS HIS DESTINY.

Taking the Krooman by one arm, the Arab sheik led him up to the old
man-o'-war's-man, who, sailor-like having finished his watch, had gone
to sleep.

After being awakened by the sheik, the Krooman was told to ask the white
man why he fired his pistol.

"Why, to kill Golah,--the big nager!" answered Bill; "an' I'm mighty
desaved if I 'ave not done it."

This answer was communicated to the sheik, who had the art of expressing
unbelief with a peculiar smile, which he now practised.

Bill was asked if he had seen the black sheik.

"Seen him! sartinly I did," answered the sailor. "He was not more nor
four paces from me at the time I peppered 'im. I tell you he is gone and
done for."

The sheik shook his head, and again smiled incredulously.

Further inquiries were interrupted by the discovery of the body of the
Arab sentinel whom Golah had killed, and all clustered around it.

The man's head was nearly severed from his body; and the blow--which
must have caused instant death--had evidently been given by the black
sheik. Near the corpse, tracks were observed in the sand such as no
other human bei