regarded the strangers in no friendly light. To escape, however, was
impossible, as they were greatly outnumbered by the new arrivals; who
were also better armed, and under superior discipline, than the savage
tribe into whose hands we had fallen. As we stood watching them, we saw
in the far distance numerous other camels, as well as horses, and
apparently sheep and goats, approaching.

The Bedouin sheikh and several other principal men now advanced, being
well protected by the firelocks of their men, who stood in front of the
camels. The black sheikh, Boo Bucker, being summoned, then advanced to
meet them, with Sinne and other heads of families, cutting a very sorry
appearance in the presence of the superior tribe. They had a long
discussion, after which the whole party came to the top of the hill,
where they could view the coast. No one hindering us, we drew near
them; when, from the remarks made, I found they had supposed that a
shipwreck had taken place, and their object was to participate in the
plunder, or rather, to take it away from the Ouadlims should they have
got possession of it--just as the frigate-bird seizes the prey which the
smaller wild-fowl has obtained.

The new-comers appeared to be somewhat angry at being disappointed in
their hope of obtaining a rich booty, and from the talking and wrangling
which took place we thought they would have come to blows with our
captors. The latter endeavoured to pacify them, however, and I gathered
from what I heard that we were to be delivered up as a peace-offering.
This to us mattered very little; indeed, we hoped that our condition
would be improved by falling into the hands of a less barbarous tribe
than those who had first taken possession of us. Still, it was not
pleasant to find ourselves handed over, like so many sheep or oxen, by
one party of savages to another.

Boo Bucker then coming up, seized me by the arm and dragged me forward
to the strange sheikh; while another chief led Halliday. Sinne was
about to seize hold of Ben; who, however, drew back, exclaiming,--"Come,
come, old fellow, you are not going to touch me; I am going where my
officers go, so don't you be afraid. And to show you that I don't
harbour ill-will, here's my fist;" and he seized the Arab's hand and
wrung it till the fellow cried out, and seemed glad to let him go. Ben
soon came up to us, laughing and slapping his legs to exhibit his
pleasure at the trick he had played the il