bs collected. Hoping to throw them off their guard, he assumed
as unconcerned an air as possible, endeavouring to make them believe
that he was reconciled to his lot. He was still as much in the dark as
ever as to what they intended to do with him. Their purpose could
scarcely be to sell him as a slave, but possibly they thought that by
exhibiting him as a prisoner to the black chiefs they might gain the
credit of having defeated the English.

In a short time their evening meal was brought by the attendants, one of
whom, when they were served, placed a bowl of rice, seasoned with red
pepper and salt, before him. It was the food the slaves were fed upon.
Though aware of this, he was too hungry to refuse it, and trying to look
perfectly satisfied, he ate up the rice as if it was exactly the dish he
preferred, and then put out the bowl to ask for more.

Mohammed shook his head to signify that he must be content with the
share given him, while the rest seemed highly amused with his look of
disappointment. After some time they retired to sleep in some rude
huts, which their attendants had put up for them, when he was led away
by his two watchful guards. He was placed as usual between them, and
lay down, covering himself up with a piece of matting which one of the
Arabs more kindly disposed than the rest had given him. Drawing the
matting over his head, he pretended to go to sleep, but he kept his eye
at a hole, through which he could partially see what was taking place.

He waited for some time watching his guards until their loud snores
assured him that their slumbers were not feigned, and at length all
sounds having ceased in the camp, he cautiously lifted up his head to
ascertain whether any sentries had been placed near him, but he could
see none either on the one side or the other. The fires had burnt low.
"Some one will soon come to wake them up," he thought; "it will be
imprudent to move yet." He waited for some time longer, but the flames
got lower and lower, and at last the glare they had thrown on the
neighbouring trees faded away.

"Now or never is my time to escape," he said to himself. Creeping out
from under his mat, which he left raised up in the centre to appear as
if he was still beneath it, he crawled along for some distance on his
hands and knees. He stopped, however, every now and then to ascertain
if any sentry, who might have been lying down, had risen to his feet and
was likely to discove