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d find none to his liking. He could lay his hand on nothing but the finest sand. While engaged in this search he fancied he heard some one approaching from the side opposite to that in which he was expecting to hear the word "_Akka_." He looked in that direction, but could see nothing save the grey surface of the sea-beach. Since being on the desert Bill had several times observed the Arabs lay themselves along the earth to listen for the sound of footsteps. This plan he now tried himself. With his eyes close to the ground, the old sailor fancied he was able to see to a greater distance than when standing upright. There seemed to be more light on the surface of the earth than at four or five feet above it; and objects in the distance were placed more directly between his eyes and the horizon. While thus lying extended along the sand, he heard footsteps approaching from the shore; but, believing they were those of the sentinel, he paid no attention to them. He only listened for a repetition of those sounds he fancied to have come from the opposite direction. But nothing was now heard to the eastward; and he came to the conclusion that he had been deceived by an excited fancy. Of one thing, however, he soon became certain. It was, that the footsteps which he supposed to be those of the Arab who kept what Bill called the "larboard watch", were drawing nearer than usual, and that the word "_Akka_" was not pronounced as before. The old sailor slewed himself around and directed his gaze towards the shore. The sound of footsteps was no longer heard, but the figure of a man was perceived at no great distance from the spot. He was not advancing nearer, but standing erect, and apparently gazing sharply about him. Could this man be the Arab sentinel? The latter was known to be short and of slight frame, while the man now seen appeared tall and of stout build. Instead of remaining in his upright attitude, and uttering, as the sentry should have done, the word "_Akka_," the stranger was seen to stoop down, and place his ear close to the earth as if to listen. During a moment or two, while the man's eyes appeared to be turned away from him, the sailor took the precaution to fill the barrel of his pistol with sand. Should he give the alarm by firing off the pistol, and then run towards the camp? No! he might have been deceived by an excited imagination. The individual before him might possibl
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