well, young Nazarene," said the sheikh. "I may not see with
your eyes, but I respect your opinions."

We said much more on the subject, and I had reason to hope that, without
sacrificing my principles, I had gained the respect of the sheikh; but
one of the marabouts, at least, was far from contented with the result
of our conversation. He constantly afterwards attacked both Halliday
and me, endeavouring to convert us, and threatening us with severe
penalties if we refused.

We had now got a considerable way to the east, and were passing along
the track of caravans moving northward with slaves, collected in the
Black States, to the southward of the Desert. The whole road was marked
by the skeletons of human beings, who had expired from thirst and
hunger. As I was riding along on my camel, dozing in consequence of the
heat of the sun, I was awoke by hearing a crashing sound, and on looking
down I saw that my beast's feet had stepped upon the perfect skeletons
of three or four human beings, which gave way beneath them. The head of
one of the skeletons, detached by a kick from the animal's foot, rolled
on like a ball some way before me. The Arabs took no notice of the
occurrence, however, remarking that they were only those of black
slaves, and of no account.

It was about this time that several of our camels knocked up; and seeing
that they would not live, the sheikh gave the order for them to be
killed. I was struck with the savage expression of the Arabs, who stood
ready with their knives in their hands, waiting for the signal to plunge
them into the bodies of the poor animals--which, before they were cool,
were cut up to supply food for the caravan. The head of the camel to be
slaughtered being turned towards the east, an Arab stuck his dagger into
its heart, when it almost instantly dropped dead.

A good many camels having been thus lost, Halliday, Ben, and I were
compelled, as at first, to trudge on on foot.

All this time I had not forgotten Antonio, and I was sure that I
occasionally caught glimpses of him. How he managed to subsist, might
seem surprising; but he had armed himself, and was thus able to kill any
animals he might meet with: he might also pick up subsistence from the
remains of the camels, sheep, and cattle which dropped on the road.
Possibly, too, he had some confederates in the camp, who might have
hidden food as well as ammunition,--which, when we moved on, he would
know by certain mar