the children, and called them by name. They
screamed when they looked at him, and Golah told them not to be
frightened, that he would wash his face, and frighten them no more. The
little boy led him to the water, and he rushed into the sea as far as he
could wade. He went there to die. Muley ran after to bring him out,
and they were both drowned. I could not help them, for I was starving!"
The emaciated appearance of the narrator gave strong evidence of the
truth of the concluding words of his story. For nearly a week he had
been travelling night and day, and the want of sleep and food could not
have been much longer endured.
At the command of the Arab chief, the slaves now buried the bodies of
Golah and his son.
Gratified at his good fortune, in being relieved from all further
trouble with his implacable foeman, the sheik determined to have a day
of rest; which to his slaves was very welcome, as was also the flesh of
the dead camel, now given them to eat.
About the death of Golah there was still a mystery the Arabs could not
comprehend, and the services of the Krooman as interpreter were again
called into requisition.
When the sheik learnt what the sailor had done, how the pistol had been
made an effective weapon by filling the barrel with sand, he expressed
much satisfaction at the manner in which the old man-o'-war's-man had
performed his duty.
Full of gratitude for the service thus rendered him, he promised that
not only the sailor himself, but the boy slaves, his companions, should
be taken to Mogador and restored to their friends.
CHAPTER SIXTY TWO.
ON THE EDGE OF THE SAARA.
After a journey of two long dreary days, days that were to the boy
slaves periods of agonising torture, from fatigue, hunger, thirst, and
exposure to a burning sun, the kafila arrived at another watering-place.
As they drew near the place, our adventurers perceived that it was the
same where they had first fallen into the hands of Golah.
"May God help us!" exclaimed Harry Blount, as they approached the place.
"We have been here before. We shall find no water, I fear. We did not
leave more than two bucketfuls in the hole; and as there has been no
rain since, that must be dried up long ago."
An expression of hopeless despair came over the countenances of his
companions. They had seen, but a few days before, nearly all the water
drawn out of the pool, and given to the camels.
Their fears were soon remove
|