d of the opportunity of satisfying their
hunger with shell-fish. The Arabs were in haste to reach some place
where they could procure food for their animals, and at the pace at
which they rode forward, it required the utmost exertion on the part of
their slaves to keep up with them.
The old man-o'-war's-man, unused to land travelling, could never have
held out, had not the Arabs allowed him, part of the time, to ride on a
camel. The feat he had performed, in ridding them of that enemy who had
troubled them so much--and who, had he not been thwarted in his attack
upon the camp, would probably have killed them all--had inspired his
masters with some slight gratitude. The sailor, therefore, was permitted
to ride, when they saw that otherwise they would have to leave him
behind to die upon the desert.
During the last two days of the eight, our adventurers noticed something
in the appearance of the country, over which they were moving, that
inspired them with hope. The face of the landscape became more uneven;
while here and there stunted bushes and weeds were seen, as if
struggling between life and death.
The kafila had arrived on the northern border of the great Saaera; and a
few days more would bring them to green fields, shady groves, and
streams of sparkling water.
Something resembling the latter was soon after discovered. At the close
of the eighth day they reached the bed of what appeared to be a river
recently dried up. Although there was no current they found some pools
of stagnant water: and beside one of these the douar was established.
On a hill to the north were growing some green shrubs to which the
camels were driven; and upon these they immediately commenced browsing.
Not only the leaves, but the twigs and branches were rapidly twisted off
by the long prehensile lips of the animals, and as greedily devoured.
It was twilight as the camp had been fairly pitched; and just then two
men were seen coming towards them leading a camel. They were making for
the pools of water, for the purpose of filling some goat skins which
were carried on their camel. They appeared both surprised and annoyed to
find the pools in possession of strangers.
Seeing they could not escape observation, the men came boldly forward,
and commenced filling their goat-skins. While thus engaged they told the
Arab sheik that they belonged to a caravan near at hand that was
journeying southward; and that they should continue their jou
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