l be better to stick by him, and he may, through his
relatives, find the means of enabling us to escape from the country."

When they spoke on the subject to Selim, he advised them not to go to
the coast, but to continue on till they could meet with his people, who
would be sure to show their gratitude for the service they had rendered
him. Day after day they trudged on, sometimes almost starved and ready
to die of thirst. Occasionally they saw what they supposed to be
caravans moving in the distance, but Selim recommended that they should
not attempt to join them, as he feared that the Arabs might carry them
off to sell as slaves. At length one day they were traversing a wide
open plain without either hillocks or bushes, when they saw some objects
moving towards them. On they came rapidly, and were soon discovered to
be a party of men on the backs of camels.

"The camels are of the Bu Saif breed," cried Selim; "we cannot escape
them."

"Let us stand still and not make the attempt," said Stephen.

They accordingly stood, as Stephen advised, close together, he in front,
Selim and Jumbo on one side, and Roger on the other. As the camels drew
nearer, it was seen that they were ridden by dark-skinned fellows, who
were brandishing in their hands long spears and scimitars. Uttering
loud shouts, the strangers dashed forward as if about to cut down the
shipwrecked party, when suddenly Selim sprang forward, and raising his
hands, exclaimed, "I am Selim Ben Hamid, the son of the chief of the
Malashlas. Spare these white men, they are my friends."

The Arabs instead of cutting down the party, instantly reined in their
animals. One of their leaders took up Selim behind him, the three
others--Stephen, Roger, and Jumbo--in their fashion treating the white
young men with great respect; then, turning their camels' heads, they
again set off at full speed northwards.

"I say, Stephen, how do you like it?" asked Roger.

"Not at all; but it is better than being killed," he answered.

Indeed, in a few minutes, from the rough motions of the camels, the skin
was nearly worn off their legs. For the remainder of the day they
travelled on till they reached another oasis, where their friends
encamped, and very glad Stephen and Roger were to get some rest. Selim
told them that they had still many more days' journey before they could
reach the town, or rather the camp, where his father was chief. When
Roger observed that they did