lish the object
of our mission; and we have a good many dangers yet to encounter." I
then told him of my apprehensions regarding Antonio, and charged him to
keep a good look-out himself, and warn the guides also to be on their
guard.

Selim listened with attention to what I said.

"I am afraid that you are right," he answered. "Last night, while we
were encamped, I fancied that I caught sight of an object moving in the
distance. I took it for a wild beast, and accordingly threw more wood
on the fire and made it blaze up, and thus, as I supposed, frightened
the beast away. I remarked, however, its extraordinary shape, and for
some moments believed it to be a man; but as I gazed towards it, it
disappeared in the darkness, and so I thought that my fancy had deceived
me."

From what Selim said I now felt perfectly sure that Antonio was
following us, and so determined the next night to remain myself on the
watch, with the carbine by my side. Accordingly, after we had pitched
the tent and had taken our supper, I lay down close to the camel,--the
palanquin, which had been taken off its back, assisting to form a
screen. The other camel lay on the opposite side,--the fire being in
the centre,--while boughs of prickly pear, which we cut down, formed the
remainder of the circle. This was our usual style of encampment, and it
afforded a tolerable protection against wild animals.

I had not been long on the watch, when, as I was looking eastward, I saw
a shadowy form slowly emerge from the darkness; as it approached it
resolved itself into the figure of a man of gigantic size, as it
appeared to me, but having certainly the air of Antonio. He stopped,
and appeared to be surveying the camp. I saw that he grasped a large
scimitar in his hand; but he had evidently no firearms. This accounted
for his hesitation about attacking us unless he could take us by
surprise. I could have shot him where he stood, but, though convinced
that he meditated mischief, I could not bring myself to do so unless he
actually attacked us.

I lay quiet, attentively watching him; and at length he began to move
forward, grasping his sword. On seeing this I started up, and the light
of the fire behind me brought my figure into view. He immediately
turned and fled, and in a few seconds I lost sight of him. He would now
be aware, however, that we suspected his design, and were on the watch;
which would make him approach more cautiously another t