ime.

Calling up Selim, I told him to take my place while I got some sleep,
which I much required; but the night passed away, and nothing more was
seen of Antonio.

I cannot describe each day's journey. We kept along the skirts of a
woody country, occasionally crossing shallow streams which furnished us
with an ample supply of water. On two other occasions we caught sight
of that mysterious figure,--once in the daytime, and once at night; but
we were at both times on our guard, and he did not venture to approach.
Still, the knowledge that he was following us, evidently with sinister
intentions, caused us great anxiety, for we could not tell at what
moment he might make a dash at us, at all hazards, and wreak his
vengeance on our heads. Selim and I would certainly be his first
victims, and probably he would put the rest of the party to death.

At length the guides told me that we were approaching the end of our
journey, and that the tents of the black sheikh were not far off. It
had been arranged that we should encamp at a short distance from them,
when I was to go forward with the camel, and deliver the widow and her
children to her father.

I had expected to see an encampment somewhat similar to the one I had
left; but, as we drew near, a few low, cotton-covered tents alone met my
view. The lady desired me to make her camel kneel down, saying that
she, with her eldest child, would go forward, and begged me to take
charge of the younger ones. I did as she wished; and, taking a basket
which contained her valuables, she advanced with trembling steps towards
one of the tents. Two figures stood at the entrance: one was a gigantic
negro, with about as ugly and sinister an expression of countenance as I
ever saw; the other was a veiled woman, whom I concluded to be the
sheikh's wife. They received the poor lady without the slightest
expression of pleasure or affection, and seemed to be demanding why she
had come back; but, on account of the distance I was from them, I could
not hear what was said. The widow had, I concluded, a long story to
tell, and the black stood eyeing her with a look of contempt, which
showed me that her reception was anything but a pleasant one. The old
dame--for such, I was convinced, she was, though I could not see her
features--stood quite still. At last I saw the widow go forward and
kneel at the sheikh's feet; when, lifting her up, he seemed, as far as I
could judge, to be assuring h