that I had conducted his
daughter and her family, placed under my charge, in safety to him; and
that, having faithfully performed my duty, I felt that I had a right to
escape from slavery, and to try and get back to my own country; that on
my way I had fallen in with my present companions, and that when we were
captured we were only doing what he and any of his people would, under
similar circumstances, have attempted.

He seemed more moved by my address than I had expected. "What you say
is true, O Nazarene," he answered; "but those from whom you have escaped
are my friends, and they will demand you at my hands. You know the
penalty you have incurred by attempting to escape, and you must be
prepared to pay it."

I felt it would be of no use pleading for mercy with the savage, or I
would have entreated him to set us at liberty, and to allow us to
continue our voyage down the river. I had frequently heard, too, of the
fearful cruelties which were practised on slaves who attempted to escape
from their Arab masters, so I could not help thinking of those we should
be doomed to suffer were we to be delivered up to Sheikh Hamed.

The black sheikh now held a short consultation with the chiefs of the
place and with those who accompanied him, and finally decided that we
were to be carried next day to his camp. We were, in the meantime,
thrust into a small hut, there to remain till the following morning,
when we were to set out. Of course, we could not help being greatly
cast down by the turn affairs had taken; Boxall, however, did his best
to keep up our spirits, and urged us to look above for that strength and
courage which we required in our time of need. "Our lives have been
preserved when we expected to have lost them. Let us hope that even now
some means of escape may be found," he observed.

"I wonder whether the savages think we can live without eating," said
Halliday. "I wish they would bring us some food."

Not many minutes after this the door opened, and a black woman appeared,
carrying a couple of baskets containing a bowl of couscoussu, a calabash
of water, and some fruit. Though her countenance was shrivelled, it
beamed with kindness.

"I heard that there were white men starving, and in captivity, and I
hastened from my home down the river to bring food to them," she said.
"Here it is. Eat, strangers, and may your strength be restored."

We thanked her for her charity.

"I myself have reason to be