reatly improved,
both in appearance and flavour. To the palates of our adventurers it
seemed delicious.

Golah, after examining his human property, and evidently satisfied with
the condition of all, retired to his tent; from which soon after issued
sounds that resembled a distant thunder-storm.

The black sheik was snoring.

The two young men, his son and brother-in-law relieved each other during
the night in keeping watch over the slaves.

Their vigil was altogether unnecessary. Weak, and exhausted with hunger
and fatigue, the thoughts of the captives were not of the future, but of
present repose; which was eagerly sought, and readily found, by all four
of them.

CHAPTER FORTY THREE.

A DAY OF AGONY.

An hour before sunrise the next morning, the slaves were given some
_cheni_ to drink, and then started on their journey.

The sun, as it soared up into a cloudless sky, shot forth its rays much
warmer than upon the day before, while not a breath of air fanned the
sterile plain. The atmosphere was as hot and motionless as the sands
under their feet. They were no longer hungry. Thirst, raging, burning
thirst, extinguished or deadened every other sensation.

Streams of perspiration poured from their bodies, as they struggled
through the yielding sand; yet, with all this moisture streaming from
every pore, their throats, tongues, and lips became so parched that any
attempt on their part to hold converse only resulted in producing a
series of sounds that resembled a death-rattle.

Golah, with his family, rode in the advance, and seemed not to give
himself any concern whether he was followed by others or not. His two
relatives brought up the rear of the kafila, and any of the slaves
exhibiting a disposition to lag behind was admonished to move on with
blows administered by a thick stick.

"Tell them I must have water or die," muttered Harry to the Krooman, in
a hoarse whisper. "I am worth money, and if old Golah lets me die for
want of a drop of water, he's a fool."

The Krooman refused to make the communication, which he declared would
only result in bringing ill-treatment upon himself.

Colin appealed to Golah's son, and by signs gave him to understand that
they must have water. The young black, in answer, simply condescended
to sneer at him. He was not suffering himself, and could have no
sympathy for another.

The hides of the blacks, besmeared with oil, seemed to repel the
scorching beams of