back to the camp,
however, he was allowed to dry his wet clothes before the fire, which he
did by taking some of them off at a time.

It was a sore trial to him to be all alone without any human being to
whom he could speak. At last the blacks led him back to the very spot
from which he had escaped, and he was allowed to cover himself up again
with his mat. He saw, however, that one of the men was sitting by his
side to keep watch.

He was too much exhausted to think over his disappointment, or to fear
any evil consequences from remaining so long wet. He soon fell into a
deep slumber, from which he was aroused by one of the blacks shaking him
by the shoulder, while another brought a bowl of rice and a cup of
coffee.

On looking round he perceived that the caravan was preparing to march.
The pagazis had shouldered their loads, and the Arabs were girding
themselves for the journey. Knowing that he would have to accompany
them, he got up ready to obey the summons to move. He was surprised to
see Mohammed, the leader, approaching him. The Arab chief spoke a few
words, laughing heartily, slapped him on the shoulder in a familiar way,
and Ned concluded that he was complimenting him on the manner he had
attempted his escape. He then lifted his gun as if about to shoot, and
put it into his hands, making signs that he was to use it, and Ned
surmised that it was intended he should fight for the Arabs.

After this Mohammed seemed much more friendly than before, and invited
him frequently to march by his side. The river was crossed by the ford,
and the caravan proceeded westward.

Ned cast many a lingering look behind as he got further and further from
the stream by means of which he had hoped to rejoin his friends. He was
too strictly watched, however, to have the slightest chance of escaping.
The country near the coast had been almost depopulated, and very few
villages or habitations of any description were passed. As the caravan
advanced more people were met with, and several large villages were
seen, to the chiefs of some of which the Arabs paid a sort of tribute in
beads and wire, and occasionally cloth, for the sake of retaining their
friendship.

Shortly afterwards they were joined by another caravan, containing even
more men than their own, and together they formed a large party. He was
introduced formally to the new-comers, who seemed to look at him with
much interest and treat him with respect. Though a