Part 13 (1/2)

”It is not bad stuff when a fellow is hungry,” observed Halliday, stuffing the porridge into his mouth as fast as he could lift it with his fingers; ”but it's very flavourless; I wish we had some salt to put into it.”

”So do I, for more reasons than one,” I answered. ”I do not quite like the appearance of things.”

”But he seems to be a pretty good-natured kind of fellow; perhaps he does not know we like our food salted,” said Halliday.

”We must take people as we find them; and I hope he has not omitted the salt intentionally, though I suspect he has not made up his mind whether to trust us or not,” I observed.

We all did justice to the sheikh's couscoussu, however; for, notwithstanding its want of salt, we had eaten no food so wholesome since we were on board the Spanish s.h.i.+p. Another girl next brought in an earthen jar of water, which we in a few minutes completely emptied.

”Thank you, Mr Sheikh,” said Ben, after his meal; ”long life to your honour.”

”What does he say?” asked our host.

”He hopes that your shadow may never grow less, and that you may live to be a blessing to your people for as long as the patriarchs of old.”

The sheikh seemed pleased, and answered,--”Your lion-hunter is a fine fellow.”

I explained that I only said he was as brave as a lion; but the sheikh replied that his bravery must have been proved by his hunting lions--and that he, at all events, would give him an opportunity of exhibiting his prowess.

Ben, tired of sitting so long on his feet, now got up, and, pulling a lock of his hair, walked out of the tent. Not supposing he would be molested, we sat on, wis.h.i.+ng to practise our Arabic by talking to the sheikh, who made numerous inquiries about our country and other parts of Europe, evidently being not altogether ignorant of what had been taking place of late in the world. We at last also got up, to take the fresh air outside, when he said--

”Stop, stop! young Nazarenes. You came here to show me the precious treasures you possess; I desire you to exhibit them.”

”Of course we will,” I said, unslinging my telescope.

He looked at it, putting the field-gla.s.s to his eye, when he saw his own ugly face reflected in it.

”Bismillah! it's wonderful,” he cried out.

I explained that this was the wrong way to use it; and inviting him to come to the door of the tent, I put it to my own eye to show him how it was to be used. As I did so, turning it eastward, what was my surprise to observe a sail standing towards the sh.o.r.e.

”Thank Heaven! here comes a vessel which may rescue us,” I exclaimed.

”Let me look at her,” said Halliday, taking the gla.s.s from me.

”Look again, Charlie,” he said, returning it to me. ”I am afraid that it is only a small boat.”

”You are right,” I answered; ”or rather, it is no boat at all, but a raft!” Indeed, by this time we could distinguish the raft with our naked eyes.

”What is all this about?” asked the sheikh, observing our agitation. I gave him the gla.s.s, but he could not fix it on the object. He saw the raft, however, without it.

”Allah be praised! yonder vessel will certainly be thrown on our sh.o.r.e, and we shall obtain a rich booty,” he exclaimed.

I did not undeceive him.

”Can that be the large raft, I wonder?” asked Halliday. ”If so, some of the poor wretches have escaped death after all.”

I examined it attentively, and saw that it was very much smaller than the large raft, and could not support more than two or three people. I also now observed that a reef of rocks ran parallel with the coast for some distance, the sea breaking heavily upon it.

There was soon a general commotion in the camp, and all fully believing that a vessel was approaching which could not escape being wrecked, were highly delighted at the prospect of making themselves the possessors of her cargo. The sheikh was as eager as any one, and, accompanied by his family, hastened down to the beach, hoping to be among the first on board.