FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   161  
162   163   164   165   166   167   168   169   170   171   172   173   174   175   176   177   178   >>  
tead of attacking him, many of them demanded that he should be set free and allowed to do as he wished. Indeed, by his good-humour, and readiness to help any one who wanted assistance, he had become a general favourite in the camp. The marabouts, however, suspecting, from his tone of voice, that he was not very complimentary to them or their religion, answered that he must be left to share our fate. They were also greatly enraged against Selim, and decided that he (in consequence of his perversion from the true faith) and Boxall (as the eldest of the party) should be the first to suffer. In the meantime, preparations were being made for our punishment; spades had been brought, and two holes dug in the sand about six feet apart. While we lay bound on the ground, the marabouts again came forward, and asked Boxall if he would turn Mohammedan; reminding him that he would be the cause of our death, and that of the young black, if he refused, as we should all undoubtedly follow. It was very clear that they would rather make converts of us than put us to death. "No, my friends," answered Boxall calmly. "In our country each man is allowed to believe as he thinks best; and I tell you that I cannot believe as you do." "Then take the consequences of your obstinate unbelief," answered the marabout, making a sign to the people surrounding us. They instantly seized Boxall and Selim, and dragged them to the holes, into which they thrust them,--one facing the other, and with their arms bound tightly down by their sides,--till their heads alone were visible above ground. The sand was then shovelled in till their bodies were entirely buried; after which a bowl of water and two pieces of well-cooked meat, emitting a pleasant odour, were placed between them, at such a distance that they could not possibly be reached. The Arabs had begun to dig two more holes, when we observed some disturbance among them. Presently the sheikh hurried to the top of a neighbouring mound, while all eyes were turned northward across the Desert. Leaving Boxall and Selim in their fearful position, and entirely disregarding us, those possessing firearms began to look to the priming, and all appeared to be getting their weapons ready for use, when, even as we lay on the ground, the heads of men in a long line came into view above our limited horizon. Then we could distinguish camels-- of which there seemed to be a hundred or more--advancing rapi
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   161  
162   163   164   165   166   167   168   169   170   171   172   173   174   175   176   177   178   >>  



Top keywords:
Boxall
 

ground

 

answered

 

allowed

 

marabouts

 
cooked
 
pleasant
 

emitting

 
visible
 

facing


thrust

 

dragged

 
seized
 

people

 
surrounding
 

instantly

 
tightly
 
buried
 

bodies

 

shovelled


pieces

 

sheikh

 

weapons

 

appeared

 

priming

 

possessing

 

firearms

 

hundred

 

advancing

 

camels


distinguish

 
limited
 

horizon

 

disregarding

 

position

 
observed
 

disturbance

 
Presently
 

distance

 
possibly

reached
 

making

 
hurried
 
northward
 

Desert

 

Leaving

 
fearful
 

turned

 
neighbouring
 

greatly