ing taken up each day by the united
labors of the whole of the crews. There was great satisfaction when
the last boat had been taken up the rapids, and there was a general
feast that evening among the boatmen. During the whole time they had
been engaged in the passage a number of armed scouts had been placed
upon the rocky eminences near the bank; for the place had an evil
reputation, and attacks were frequently made by the desert tribesmen
upon those passing up or down upon the river.

So far no signs of the presence of hostile natives had been perceived.
The usual precautions, however, had been taken; the cargoes had all
been carried up by hand and deposited so as to form a breastwork, and
as night closed in several sentries were placed to guard against
surprise. It had been arranged that the men belonging to the boats
each day brought up should that night take sentinel duty; and this
evening Jethro, his companions and boatmen were among those on guard.
Many of the boats had left Semneh before them, and they had been among
the last to arrive at the foot of the cataracts, and consequently came
up in the last batch.

As owners they had been exempt from the labors of dragging up the
boats, and had spent much of their time during the enforced delay in
hunting. They had obtained dogs and guides from the village at the
foot of the cataracts and had had good sport among the ibex which
abounded in the rocky hills. The girls had seldom left their cabin
after leaving Semneh. There was nothing remarkable in the presence of
women in a boat going so far up the river, as many of the traders
took their wives on their journeys with them. When, however, they
journeyed beyond Semneh they left them there until their return, the
danger and hardships of the desert journey being too great for them to
encounter, and it was therefore thought advisable that the girls
should remain in seclusion.

Jethro, Amuba, and Chebron were standing together at one of the angles
of the encampment when the former suddenly exclaimed:

"There are men or animals moving on that steep hill opposite! I
thought several times I heard the sound of stones being displaced. I
certainly heard them then." Then turning round he raised his voice: "I
can hear sounds on the hill. It were best that all stood to their arms
and prepare to resist an attack."

In an instant the sound of song and laughter ceased amid the groups
assembled round the fires and each man seized h