brought us provisions on
the previous evening. It confirmed my belief, however, that Woman is
the same all the world over; and that in every place some are to be
found who, according to the light within them, endeavour to do their
duty in the sight of God, by affording sympathy and help to their
fellow-creatures in distress.

Again we were on the road,--Ben being summoned to attend to his master,
while we trudged wearily on foot. Having neither cattle, sheep, nor
goats to impede us, our progress was more rapid than it had been across
the Desert. The baggage was carried on camels and asses; while the more
wealthy people rode, and the rest had to walk.

For several days we advanced, passing numerous ruins, which showed how
thickly the country at one time had been populated. At last one
afternoon we encamped on high ground, outside an ancient town or
fortress, amid which palms and other trees had grown up, attesting its
antiquity. The tents were pitched, and Boxall, Halliday, and I were
sent out with the horses and camels to graze on the pastures surrounding
the hill. Returning in the evening, we met Ben with his camel--beside
which it was his duty to sleep close to his master's tent. Ours was not
far off.

"I have a notion, Mr Blore," said Ben, "that if you could take my place
for the evening, you would find out more of what these fellows are about
than I can. Half-a-dozen or more are sure to be seated in front of the
tent for a couple of hours or so after dark, talking away, and smoking
their pipes; but for the life of me, though I listen, I cannot make out
what they say. They will not know the difference between you and I,
however, and the camel will be as quiet with you as he is with me."

I was very willing to take advantage of Ben's suggestion; so giving my
horses into his keeping, I took his camel and led it up in front of
Siddy Boo Cassem's tent, where, making it lie down, I threw myself on
the ground near it. Its owner and several friends were seated, as Ben
expected,--the hoods of their burnouses, drawn over their heads, making
them look more like a party of old crones than stalwart Arabs habituated
to war and the chase; or I might have taken them for the witches in
"Macbeth" discussing their malevolent designs. On one side were the
ruined walls of the Roman town, with a tall monument rising above them;
in front were the tents, spread beneath a few sparsely scattered
palm-trees; while beyond could