ers stood, and offered to sit
up and watch while they slept. He was faithful to his trust, for when
the dawn broke and Roger awoke, he saw him still sitting, with his eyes
fixed on them.

"Ouadelins are on the move," he said, "but we must lie close or they
will discover us."

Roger, however, went to the top of the hillock, on which a few bushes
completely concealed him, and from thence he could see the date-grove.
In a short time the Arabs, mounted on their camels, were seen moving to
the north-east. Stephen and Roger, with their two dark-skinned
companions, waited till the Arabs had disappeared in the distance; they
then all four hurried to the grove. On reaching it they lost not a
moment in quenching their thirst, and as soon as they had recovered
their voices they shouted for old Sam, but no answer was returned. They
hunted about in all directions, and at last came to the conclusion that
the Arabs had carried him off. They had taken away a large portion of
the dates, but a few remained, which Selim and Jumbo, climbing the tree,
got for them. They remained in the grove all day eating dates and
drinking water.

"I say, Stephen, we cannot live here for ever," said Roger, "for we
shall soon have eaten all the provisions the country supplies. We must
consult with Selim as to what course to pursue."

Selim, through Jumbo, advised that they should move northward.

"It is a long journey to tents of my people," he said, but he thought
that he could conduct them there in safety.

Accordingly, after another night's rest, and having loaded themselves
with dates and filled their bottles with water, they set out. Selim
advised them to be very careful of the water, as it might be many days
before they reached another spring. With their sticks in their hands
they trudged over the plain. Though the heat was great, the country as
they advanced was less arid and sandy than farther south. After
travelling for five or six days they unexpectedly came upon another
date-grove shading a pool. Here they replenished their provisions and
water, and after a whole day's rest again set forward. Stephen
suggested that they should return to the coast, where they might be
taken off by some passing vessel.

"You forget that passing vessels are more likely to be enemies than
friends," observed Roger. "We cannot be very far off from Sallee and
those ports out of which the rovers sail. Having thus unexpectedly met
a friend, it wil