CHAPTER VI
The Escape
FOR several days the captives' lot, though hard, was not oppressive.Save for the fetters on their wrists, they were not subjected tobonds, nor were their movements restricted, within certain limits.Their work consisted in having to tend and water the camels, horses,and cattle, and to cultivate a strip of land on the banks of theriver. Although, generally speaking, the Arabs are a nomadic race,and do not take kindly to husbandry, this fertile strip of groundoffered too good an opportunity of cultivating maize to be ignored;and the work was delegated to the slaves, most of whom were of negrodescent, while some were Arabs who, through offences committedagainst the tribal laws and customs, were reduced to compulsoryservitude.
The Englishmen's clothing, long since in rags, was now barely enoughto cover them; but, hardened to the sun's rays, the discomfort wasless than they had anticipated. Reeves's chief source of anxiety onthis account was concerning his automatic pistol and ammunition,till, fearing that the ragged state of his clothing would reveal theprecious treasure, he stealthily wrapped the weapon and cartridges ina fragment of sheepskin, and hid them under a rock at some distancefrom the camp.
The man's indomitable spirit seemed to buoy up the flagging energiesof his two young companions; but although many plans were broughtforward when the question of escaping was discussed, it was deemedprudent to wait events. The correspondent kept a marvellous controlover himself, never once by word or gesture allowing the Arabs tosuspect that he was fairly conversant with their tongue. Yet hefailed to overhear any reliable information relating to the land thatlay to the south of the Plateau of Ahaggar: to the Arabs it wasalmost a forbidden subject.
"It seems to me," he once remarked, "that our only chance of escapelies in making a dash to the south. This river must lead somewhere,unless it is lost in the sand. The fact that the country in thatdirection seems to be in disfavour with the Arabs is in our favour.Returning by the way we came is a physical impossibility. To thedangers of crossing the desert is added the likelihood of fallinginto the hands of another tribe, in which case our position would befar worse than it is at present."
"But where do you think the river leads to?" asked Hugh.
"I can only conjecture. Since we are on the highest ground of thegreat Sahara, it may be that the river flows into Nigerian territory.If we make the attempt, it will be no light task."
"Anything will be better than dragging out a miserable existencehere," replied Gerald.
"As I have said before, we must not spoil everything by beingpremature," rejoined Mr. Reeves. "Still, we must not be content withdiscussing the matter; we must act."
By denying themselves a portion of their already scanty fare, thecaptives contrived to collect a store of provisions least likely tobe spoiled by age. Two goatskin water bottles were also set aside bystealth, and, taking advantage of their daily excursions to theriver, the Englishmen managed without detection to secrete theirprizes in a small cave not far from the place where the pistol andammunition were hidden.
One afternoon, as the three comrades were returning from their toilat the maize field, they perceived a tall, white-robed Arabapproaching. He was bareheaded and his hair was shaved, denoting thathe was an _imam_, or holy man. In utter ignorance of whom he was,Gerald incautiously allowed his shadow to fall athwart the stranger'spath.
The _imam_ stopped and cursed the unbeliever in the strongest termshe could lay tongue to; but the lad, not knowing what was being said,continued on his way with his companions.
"We've done it!" remarked Reeves. "That fellow is one of the priestsof the tribe, and in some way we've offended him. Ten to one he'llmake it hot for us with the sheikh."
The words were hardly out of his mouth when the rapid pattering offootsteps in the sand caused the captives to look behind them.
The "imam", considering himself deliberately abused by a son ofShaitan, was running towards his supposed insulter, knife in hand.The blade flashed in the air. In another moment it would have beenburied in Gerald's shoulder had not Reeves, by throwing himself onthe ground, caught the Arab by the ankles, capsizing him very neatlyon the soft soil.
"Take the knife away from him, Hugh," shouted the prostrateEnglishman. Ere the lad could seize the _imam's_ wrist, however, theman kicked himself free, and rushed at the unbeliever who hadthwarted him.
But the correspondent was not going to allow himself to be knifed ifhe could help it. Bringing his wrists together, he struck at the Arabwith the bight of the iron chain. The _imam_ attempted to parry theblow, but the supple links, falling upon his bare skull, brought himto the ground, this time with a thud. In tumbling, the unfortunatewretch fell upon his own knife, and, ere the Englishman could realizewhat had occurred, the Arab was dead.
"Look sharp, lads; scoop a hole in the sand and cover him up. If thisis discovered we are as good as done for. I hope no one else saw thisbusiness.... Too late, by Jove! Look over there!"
Reeves pointed to the opposite side of the river, where three or fourBaggaras were making for the encampment. They had seen the affair,and, taking to their heels, ran swiftly to carry the news to thesheikh. Fortunately the river at this point widened out to afair-sized pond, and the men had to go some distance upstream erethey came to the ford.
"We must make a dash for it," continued Reeves, giving a swiftglance around. "Make for the hieries--they are behind those rocks."
All three broke into a run, stopping a moment at the hiding-place toretrieve the empty water skins, provisions, pistol, and ammunition.As luck would have it, four of the beasts were saddled, having beenmade ready to bear the sheikh and three of the principal members ofhis family on a short journey to a neighbouring tribe.
The black slaves gasped with astonishment to see the three Kafirsrunning towards them, when they ought to have been in the fields.Still more were they astonished when they beheld Reeves unbuckle thegirths of one of the animals and, with the saddle under his arm,climb into the saddle of another kneeling camel; and ere they couldrecover from their surprise, the three white men were urging theirwilling but unwieldy steeds towards the desert.
The fugitives could rely upon half an hour's start--five miles at theoutside--and as the distance between them and the encampment ofSheikh Wadherim increased, they saw with intense satisfaction thatthere were as yet no signs of pursuit.
"Why are we going into the desert?" asked Hugh, after a while. "Ithought you meant to follow the river?"
"So I should have, had we not settled the hash of that shaven-headedrascal," replied Reeves. "No doubt the Arabs, in their desire toavenge the death of their _imam_, will brave the terrors of thejinn-infested country. That's somewhat unfortunate for us but itcannot be helped. I mean to strike into the desert till just beforedawn, then bear away to the south-west and rejoin the stream."
"We are without water," observed Gerald.
"True! Had we gone deliberately to work we should have taken steps toprocure a supply. That makes us dependent upon the river in any case.I wish there was a breeze to cover up our tracks," and thecorrespondent pointed to six distinct, furrow-like lines in the soft,yielding sand.
On and on they rode, keeping their direction solely by the positionof the now setting sun. At length the fiery orb dipped behind thealmost level horizon, but still there was no sign of the expectedpursuit.
"Perhaps they are still afraid of the jinns," said Hugh.
"Or it is quite likely that we are outstripping them," added Reeves."We've taken the best hieries, and they are comparatively fresh.We've more than a fighting chance, lads."
It was soon night. The stars shone forth with fiery brilliancy, whilethe air was sharp, though not so piercingly cold as on the low-lyingdeserts to the north. For several hours hardly a word was spoken, andonly the soft footfalls of the camels broke the silence.
"How shall we get rid of these beastly things?" asked Hugh at last,rattling his chain as he spoke.
"We must be content to wear the bracelets," replied Reeves. "Wh
en itis daylight I mean to try a few shots with the pistol on them. Theonly thing is that ammunition is scarce."
"I've a file," announced Gerald. "I saw one lying outside the tent ofAzuf the blacksmith this morning, and so I picked it up. I meant tohave told you before."
"Good!" replied Reeves emphatically. "As soon as we call a halt we'llbegin operations."
"Haven't we gone far enough?" asked Hugh.
"Far enough?" repeated Reeves fiercely. "Not by any means. We'll beseen at daybreak, if not before, if we stay here."
On they plodded, keeping resolutely to the south-east. Once or twiceHugh fancied that he could distinguish the sounds of distant voices,but neither Gerald nor Reeves could detect any noises that could beput down to their pursuers.
At length, just before dawn, an intense blackness brooded over thedesert. The stars withheld their light, and for nearly an hour thethree fugitives were riding blindly, unable to ascertain in whichdirection they were going, but trusting to Providence to guide themfrom their taskmasters.
"Look here," exclaimed Reeves, pulling his hierie and turning towardshis almost invisible companions, "this won't do! Goodness only knowswhere we are heading for. We'll make a halt till dawn, or until thestars are visible again. I only wish we had a watch. It can't be faroff sunrise."
Descending from their lofty perches, the fugitives hobbled the camelsand waited, the correspondent making good use of his time by filingaway at one of the wristlets to which was secured Gerald's chain.
"Now then, Rags, you have a shot at it," he said, handing Hugh thefile, and wiping the moisture from his brow, for even in the coldnight air the exertion was trying and tedious. The lad took the file,and while Reeves steadied Gerald's wrist, Hugh worked manfully at thestubborn metal.
So engrossed were they by their task that the dawn began to glimmerere the fugitives were aware of it. Suddenly Reeves looked up.
"By Jove! we've been making a mess of it," he exclaimed, pointing tothe glow in the sky. Instead of pointing to his left, he pointed inexactly the opposite direction. During the period of darkness theyhad completed a semicircle, and were making as nearly as possiblestraight for the direction whence they had come.
"Up with you!" he continued, as he set the example by unhobbling hishierie and climbing into the high-peaked saddle.
From his lofty perch upon the camel's back he glanced anxiously in anortherly direction. The sun was just appearing above the horizon,and in its ruddy light the Englishman saw a sight that made himmutter under his breath.
Less than a mile distant were their pursuers!