e soon afterwards--being a considerable distance
ahead of the caravan--came to a halt, when, dismounting, I pulled the
telescope out and put it to my eye. What was my surprise to see, in the
far distance, a white spot on the beach, which on more minute
examination I discovered to be a tent made of a ship's sails! Instead
of letting Abdalah see it, I turned the glass towards some distant
camels, which appeared mere specks rising out of the sandy desert.
Abdalah's astonishment on seeing them, as it were, on a sudden brought
within reach, was much greater than mine had been on catching sight of
the tent.

After he had amused himself for some time, I informed him that I
believed we should find some white men encamped at a distance of less
than an hour's journey, and entreated him to be merciful to them. "That
will be as the sheikh thinks fit," he answered evasively.

We were now anxious to hurry on, in order to ascertain who the people
were; so, mounting our camels, we started off. I was considerably
raised in the opinion of the sheikh and Abdalah when they found my
prediction true. Dismounting from their camels, Halliday and I
following them, they made their way towards the tent. As they drew
aside a loose portion, a sad scene met the view. In the interior were a
number of persons apparently in the last stage of starvation, whose
haggard countenances, long hair and beards, and scanty clothing, showed
the hardships they had endured. One of them coming forward, threw
himself on his knees, imploring the chief in piteous accents to have
compassion on him and his companions.

"Who are you?" asked the sheikh; but the man made no reply.

Halliday and I then stepped forward and looked on. I thought I
recognised several of them, and at length was convinced that they were
some of the people we had seen on board the Spanish ship. I then asked
them if this was the case.

"Yes," answered the poor man on his knees. "We escaped in one of the
boats, and after enduring many hardships were thrown on this
inhospitable shore,--several of our people being drowned at the same
time."

I told the sheikh of the sufferings they had endured, hoping to excite
his compassion; but he seemed unmoved thereat, though he allowed Abdalah
to show us a spot where, by digging, we could obtain some fresh water.
The eagerness with which they took it when we carried it to them proved
the amount of their thirst; indeed, I believe that all of them