ll the men in his camp were worshipping at the shrine of the
saint, to wander as far away as he could venture without creating
suspicion in the minds of those who might be watching him, in the hope
of meeting with one of us, or with some of our people who might give him
information and take a message from him. He had proceeded further than
was prudent, when, as it happened, a party of our Arabs returning to the
camp caught sight of him, and supposing, from his white skin and dress,
that he was one of us, seized and bound him, and carried him off as a
prisoner. His capture, as he afterwards learned, was observed by a
shepherd and some boys of his own camp, who carried back intelligence of
what had occurred.

Fortunately, Ben, who was outside our camp, met the party, and
recognising Boxall, claimed him as a friend; telling him, without loss
of time, of our intention of escaping. This made Boxall--who had been
well treated by his captors, and expected to be liberated on his return
to the north--abandon his resolution of going back to them, if he could
escape from our camp. He pretended, therefore, to be well satisfied
with his change of masters, and--as was really the case--to be delighted
at finding an old friend. The Arabs, being thus deceived, believed that
there was no necessity for watching him, and gave him over without
hesitation into Ben's charge.

Now, as I had left the camp secretly, it was not known by the people
generally, and especially by the women, that I was absent, and Ben
calculated rightly that Boxall would be mistaken for me. He accordingly
conducted him boldly into the camp, where they soon found Halliday; and
it was agreed that as soon as night came on they should all three make
their escape together. This they had done; and having supplied
themselves with food and some leathern bottles filled with water, they
had pushed on during the night and the whole of the next day, till they
reached the shelter of the wood. Arriving at the very stream we had
discovered, and supposing that they would find us on the western side,
they had crossed it, and had been waiting the whole day in expectation
of our arrival.

Boxall had gone through numerous adventures; but having been fortunate
enough to cure some of the sheikh's family and several other persons by
practising the slight knowledge of medicine he possessed, he had been
held in high estimation, and had gained the confidence of the sheikh and
all th