understand that I was a friend.

On reaching the main body, I found several persons dressed in half
Oriental and half European costume, some of whom I guessed were French
surgeons, from the way they were attending to the wounded Arabs. I
quickly made myself known, and met with a cordial reception.

Going to a spot whence I could be seen from the tower, I made the signal
agreed on to my friends within it, who at once descended and hurried to
the spot. The French officers congratulated us warmly on our wonderful
escape, they having heard from Ben of our long captivity. One of them--
who was the officer in command--spoke English fairly, and gave us an
account of the sailor's arrival among them, at which they, and even the
Arabs, who guessed what we were talking about, laughed heartily.

The information of the approach of an enemy had a short time before been
brought to them, and the French had just arrived at the Arab camp
preparatory to commencing a march southward, when, by the light of the
full moon, a camel, fleet as the wind, was seen approaching the camp.
The animal, instead of being reined up by its rider, galloped forward,
the assembled multitude making way on either side; when suddenly it
stopped, and, as a natural consequence, off flew honest Ben from its
back into their midst. Without being in the least disconcerted, as soon
as he had picked himself up he began to shout out, in English and such
Arabic as he could command--

"Come along, all of you, as fast as you can, and save my officers from
being knocked on the head by the villainous crew from whom we have
escaped, as we had a right to do."

How Ben might have been received by the Arabs, it is hard to say; but at
that moment the sheikh, the former owner of Bu Saef, came forward and
recognised his well-beloved and long-lost camel. In a moment Ben found
himself treated with the greatest respect and attention. The French
commandant coming up, quickly learned all about us; and finding that
there was no time to be lost, he at once despatched the first party of
Arab cavalry that was ready to start, following himself shortly
afterwards with others, accompanied by Ben.

The French commandant having posted men in the wood and among the ruins,
so as to attack the enemy on their flank, in the event of those who had
gone in pursuit being compelled to retreat, we waited anxiously for
their return. Presently we saw clouds of dust rising from the south,
out of