WE spent the night in that scene of misery, but I turned my back toward the spot where the worst of the crimes had been enacted and strove to close my ears to the groans of the survivors, whose wretchedness I was powerless to relieve. Early in the morning we were roused -- not from sleep, for none of our little party had slept a moment -- but from so-called rest, to resume our journey.

I was bound on an ox which unmistakably was a pack ox, for its pace jarred and shook me inexpressibly; I could not guide the beast into the smoothest places, because the heavy "schebah" was still around my neck, and I had to hold it up with both hands. My ox was tied to the one Ibn Asl rode, and every jerk his animal gave was torture to me. Ben Nil and Selim followed immediately behind me, and after them came part of the white "Asaker," the rest having preceded us.

When they had handcuffed me I had tried to make my hands as large as possible on the slender chance of getting them through the iron later, but in the meantime they had swollen so dreadfully and were in such a condition from sweat and blood that there was no hope of drawing them out of the handcuffs. My only chance lay in getting them into water. Oh! for an hour in the blessed, cooling waves which were flowing freely over the green world, so far beyond my reach!

The sun had not risen, nor the last stars disappeared as we set forth, and we proceeded at such a pace that it was

clear that Ibn Asl intended swooping down on Wagunda and surprising it before the time when the Reis Effendina calculated that he could get there.

We stopped to rest the oxen and let them graze at what must have been about the hour that my friends at home were eating their comfortable breakfasts. Ben Nil was laid beside me, and he whispered: "Effendi, this time it is the end of us; don't you think so? Or is there a spark of hope alive in you still?"

"A spark? I haven't lost an iota of hope," I said.

"Ah, it is a blessed word," sighed the young fellow, "but I am afraid it has been stricken from our books."

"It is down in my book, as long as I live; fastenings can be broken; and a 'schebah,' too, though it is a strong thing, is not indestructible."

"How do you think you can do it?"

"You will learn later; I don't dare tell you, for we might be overheard. Let us be silent now, for I must collect my thoughts while I am not racked by the ox, and all my attention concentrated on whether he is going to stumble and break his neck, and my own." I was in earnest in saying this, for there was imminent danger of its happening; if I fell with the long and heavy "schebah" around my neck it was not in the least unlikely that I should be killed.

Not for long could I lie there and plan escape; we set out again as soon as possible, and rode all day in the same painful way as before. We halted for the mid-day rest beside a little stream, at which I looked longingly. When I was untied and taken from the ox my limbs were so benumbed from long binding and painful jolting that I could not use arms or legs and I fell in a helpless heap.

"Are you so bad as that already?" laughed Ibn Asl scornfully. "Will you still boast of your strength?"

"When did I ever boast of it?" I asked. "Do you im-

agine I suffer? I am rejoicing, rather, that you will not reach Wagunda in time." My clothing was stiff with blood; it had come in great part from the arms and legs, and I knew that my weakness was but temporary, and that they would soon be able to serve me as well as ever, but I tried to increase my appearance of weakness, tactics which were not without result later.

We rested two hours this time and halted for the night on the border of a kind of prairie, where Ibn Asl pitched the tent which two pack oxen had carried for his use. Ben Nil and Selim were laid beside the camp fire, entrusted to the care of guards, but Ibn Asl said, as he examined my handcuffs and "schebah" carefully: "I will not leave this fellow outside; you must get into the tent where I can be sure of you."

Accordingly I was laid in the rear of Ibn Asl's own tent, my "schebah" made fast to its pole, and my feet tied together. Near the entrance where soft blankets were piled for Ibn Asl's bed, attendants set a jar of water for the night. This water could deliver me, and it took all the self-control I could muster to see it there beyond my reach, knowing this to be true. As Ibn Asl stretched out to sleep he said: "Do not dream of flight! I shall hear every movement; if you attempted to rise, the 'schebah' would shake the tent pole, if it did not pull it down, and a watcher sits outside who will not take his eyes off the tent." The villain was right, but if I could have reached his water jar he would have found out his mistake.

He dropped the tent curtains and lay down in perfect stillness, and I was as still as he. Sleep was out of the question; my brain whirled and ached with hard thinking, and my bed was too hard to rest on. While that water Jar still sat there I could not escape; I looked at it till I became half delirious and fell into something that resembled light

sleep, from which I was shortly aroused by the voices of the guards waking the sleepers outside to another day of travel and pain.

We started at dawn and had gone but a little distance when a spy came up to Ibn Asl from the direction of Wagunda, saying: "I have succeeded beyond my hopes, my lord; I have listened to the talk of two white 'Asaker' of the Reis Effendina's whom I came upon in the woods where they had gone to shoot game."

"What was their talk about?"

"Of you; they said you were not expected in less than five days, and they look for you from the opposite direction. They are led by the Reis Effendina, and they have not full confidence in him; they said they would rather have had the Effendi lead them, and so would the Bors who are with them."

"Do you hear your praise, Effendi?" asked Ibn Asl, turning to me. "I hope you will never betray the confidence reposed in you."

"Be sure that I will do my best for them," I replied.

"Your best is over," he sneered. Then, turning back to the spy, he said: "Did you hear anything else?"

"Nothing, except that they think our prisoners have returned from Wagunda by the way they came, and have no idea that they went toward Fagoda to get help."

"Very well; I am much pleased with your news. Move on, my men; we have not much farther to go, and will make the attack when it is least expected."

We moved on, but slowly, and I saw no way of giving the alarm to save Wagunda, nor even any way to save ourselves. If only I could speak with the Djangeh! They were of the same tribe as the people in Wagunda. Still, they had been equally related to the unhappy creatures in Pagoda whom they helped destroy. When these Negroes of the Sudan

have seen blood they throw aside every natural feeling. I saw that Ben Nil was losing heart more and more at each mile, though he said not a word. Selim, however, lamented loudly enough for six, and though his cowardice and lack of spirit made me feel like choking him, I could not help seeing that it was not bad for us to have Ibn Asl believe that he was lowering our spirits and voicing the feelings we were too proud to utter.

To my surprise I found that we were not to proceed to Wagunda that night; we halted at twilight, which was more than twilight under the trees, and made a camp. The space in the woods which Ibn Asl had selected for his camp was rather long and narrow, so that our company stretched out into a thin line as they lay down to rest. One wing was made up of the white "Asaker," the other of the Djangeh, while Ibn Asl's tent stood between the two, rather to the white men's side, leaving the Negroes more space than they themselves occupied. I was deposited in Ibn Asl's tent as before; the oxen were tied behind the bushes.

Ibn Asl sat in the entrance of the tent, and one of the Djangeh brought him a jar of water, from which he drank, then set it carelessly behind him. A spy came to him with tidings which I could not catch, but I heard Ibn Asl say: "Good! we will attack after midnight. Let the guard be the same as yesterday, and call me about midnight. Give me my blankets." He received them, prepared his own bed, and in doing so set the water jar further back, lest he should stumble over it. Then he said to me: "Dog, this has been your last day; to-morrow the Reis Effendina will be in my hands, and then I will make you howl till you are heard the full length of the Nile."

"The Nile is a long river," I thought, "and it is a long lane that has no turn!" I did not answer; my whole attention was fastened on that jar, and I fairly trembled lest he

should move it out of my reach, but no -- I drew a long breath. He had lain down and forgotten it!

I waited to be sure that he was asleep fully an hour, which seemed to me like an eternity. Then I stretched out my feet, still tied together, to try to "fish" for that jar. I contrived to get one foot around it; then, drawing up my legs slowly, slowly, pulled toward me. At last I could reach it with my hands. It had a mouth big enough to get one hand in, and I chose the left one because ordinarily it is smaller than the right. The water was cool, and I let the hand sink down, taking care not to rattle the chains. There was no way of measuring time, but it may have been another hour before I took the hand out. As I felt it with my right one I found the skin wrinkled and knew the swelling had gone down. Holding the handcuff with my right hand, I began to pull -- pull -- "Hamdulillah!" I almost cried -- it started; a little more -- the hand was free!

Now, quick, and get my neck out of that accursed "schebah" -- it was done! Now for the ropes that bound my feet! They had been tied in a noose; I pulled it out, and was once more in possession of all my limbs; only the handcuff and chain hung on my right hand, which, instead of being a drawback, could serve me as a weapon.

What next? Should I free Ben Nil and Selim? I dared not, for the risk was too great, but I did not mean to quit that tent without making Ibn Asl unable to do any more harm for a while. I crept up to him, holding my chains so that they should not rattle. He breathed quietly and heavily. He slept. Should I stab him with his own knife? No, I was not a murderer. I leaned over him, seized his throat, struck one blow on his temple -- a half audible gurgle -- and he was mine!

Now up and away with him! I took the knife and pistol from his girdle and rose. The guards sat before the tent;

the knife was sharp, however, and I cut out the left side of the canvas, lifted Ibn Asl and passed out, not as quickly as it can be told, yet without making a noise. Fortunately I emerged from the tent near the shrubbery where the oxen were tied; I passed through among the animals, hidden by them from sight, and got away from the camp into the woods. The place was familiar to me, and I did not hesitate in selecting the spot where I would deposit my burden, and tie Ibn Asl fast until such time as I could return for him. I had the ropes with which my feet had been tied in my pocket, and with them, and my prisoner's own girdle and long head covering, I had no difficulty in making him secure. I also furnished him with a gag which I am sure gave him much satisfaction when he recovered consciousness, for it fitted beautifully, and what was more, kept him from crying out!

Having attended to these pleasant duties, I hurried as fast as I could run toward the village. It struck me that it would be good sport if I could finish the night's work without the aid of the Reis Effendina, proving to him that I was not quite useless, and I hoped to be able to do this with the aid of the Bors. So I went directly toward their part of the emir's camp, and while I was wondering how I could make them know what I had to tell them, I almost fell over the young interpreter who had accompanied us hither. I clapped my hand over his mouth to prevent the cry of surprise he was about to utter at the sight of me, and I told him the story of the past few days, ending with the request that he would help me secure his chief's aid in capturing Ibn Asl's camp, which any moment might awake to discover their leader's absence and fall upon Wagunda. He needed no urging, for he was furious over what I had told him, and I left him to go to his chief, while I waited for them at an appointed place.

He soon returned with his chief, and together we three crept back to Ibn Asl's camp. Our plan was for the chief to enter the Djangeh's quarters and persuade them to rise against their unnatural ally, which we were sure they would do when urged by one of their own race to follow him. There was but one danger, and that was that they might give the alarm before they recognized the intruder as the Bor chief.

We slipped softly through the bushes and entered the Djangeh camp. The men were sleeping the heavy sleep of utter weariness; the chief crept up to one of them, laid his hand over his mouth and whispered into his ear. The man started up, but lay down quietly at a word from the chief. A second and a third was awakened; then the chief said to me through the interpreter: "Go into the tent, Effendi; these men will awaken each other, and we will fall upon the sleeping 'Asaker.' It may not be necessary for you to take any part in their capture." I was glad to go and bring the good news of freedom to my anxious comrades, and crept over to the tent, in front of which they were lying. I drew Ibn Asl's heavy pistol, and, coming up behind, struck the guard keeping watch over them a blow that laid him senseless; then I hastened to Ben Nil. He was not asleep and he knew me instantly. "Effendi," he whispered, "are you free?"

"Yes; be still and wake no one." I cut the thongs that held him and pulled off his "schebah." He could not rise, but I helped him up and he whispered: "There to the right lie our weapons; give me mine; I can shoot in spite of my handcuffs."

"Not yet; come into the tent; the Djangeh might mix you up with the 'Asaker'."

"The Djangeh? What about them? How came they to --" I let him say no more, shoved him into the tent, went back and freed Selim, holding one hand over his

mouth to prevent his speaking, and got him into the tent. None too soon done, for in an instant the Djangeh, who had by this time all learned that their chief was there, and that Ibn Asl would have murdered him, came creeping like black shadows to the tent to get the ropes and chains intended for the Wagunda Gohks, to have them ready to serve the same purpose in his regard. I ordered the Djangehs to appoint three of their number to each white "Askeri," and be ready to act all at the same time. They carried out the plan as well as any trained troops could have done. Noiseless as ghosts they glided in threes, each group to its appointed place, and at a signal seized their man, disarmed and bound him before he knew what had happened, and in a few moments the work was thoroughly and noiselessly done; not a single "Askeri" escaped.

Then we lighted the fire, which we needed to see by, and sent the interpreter to invite the Reis Effendina to the little surprise party we had prepared for him. While we waited his coming, I sent a small band to bring in Ibn Asl under Ben Nil; they took with them for his use the "schebah" I had worn so painfully since my capture.

He wore this ornament when they led him in. I had not intended speaking to him, but he stopped before me with his eyes blazing with hatred, and cursed me so vehemently that I handed his own hippopotamus skin whip to Selim, whom I knew he despised as the coward he was, and bade him whip him into silence. Selim's long arms flew like a windmill, and he laid on with a relish born of his own sufferings and the delight of perfect security in beating the most daring and wicked wretch in all Africa. I must say I had never seen Selim do anything half as well.

While this was going on the Reis Effendina arrived. He came toward me with all his old cordiality; holding out both hands toward me he said: "Forgive me, Effendi; I

have been unjust to you, and ungrateful; and now, but for you, I and all the village would have been destroyed. Forgive me and be my friend once more."

"With all my heart," I cried, for I really liked the worthy man. "It is for you now to sentence these prisoners captured here and carry out your office. My work is done."

"Set free, first of all, the poor wretches whom this beast has enslaved," said the Reis, turning to Aziz, his favorite. The order was at once executed, and, staggering under their loss of blood and the mental and bodily suffering they had endured, the poor victims from Fagoda fell at the emir’s feet and at mine, kissing them and incoherently sobbing out their joy and gratitude.

"I have a present to make you," said the Reis, as he motioned to his men to help them rise. "I give Ibn Asl into your hands; deal with him and punish him as you see fit."

A howl of rage and triumph rent the night air at these words, while the Negroes sprang to their feet as though they had new life infused by them. They fell on Ibn Asl without the loss of a moment and he would have been torn limb from limb before our eyes had not the emir said: "One moment. This Effendi is not accustomed to the justice of the Sudan; lead the man away." All Ibn Asl's courage gave way before this awful sentence; trembling and jabbering incoherently in his terror, he clutched at my garments, asking me to intercede for him. Before I could reply the Reis Effendina interposed: "He will not ask mercy for you, and if he did it should not be granted. As you have dealt with these men, their children and helpless mothers, so shall they deal with you. Take him away."

Bending under his heavy "schebah," dragged, kicked and shoved along the ground Ibn Asl passed out of sight to his doom. I never knew how it met him; I never dared to ask. Knowing that it was dealt to him by Negro savages, whose

homes he had destroyed, and whose dear ones he had slaughtered, I knew it must have come in a form which was horrible beyond imagination. Yet there was no denying that the Reis Effendina had contrived retribution that was just, and that no suffering one man could endure could equal the agony of the many he had murdered and sold into slavery. "Woe to him who does evil," was the emir's motto, and Ibn Asl had reaped as he had sown.

The Djangeh were pardoned for their part in the destruction of Pagoda, but the white "Asaker" were shot for their participation in crimes of which they understood the full extent.

I had had enough of life in the Sudan and longed for a glimpse of civilization once more. The Reis Effendina took me back to Cairo on his ship, the "Falcon," and we parted there with genuine regret on both sides.

The parting that cost me most, however, was from my true, brave Ben Nil, who was half heartbroken when the hour came. The Reis Effendina, who had good reason to know his value, promised me to take him into his immediate personal service, so the fine fellow prospered, as curious letters which have reached me since from that distant land and his hand have assured me.

As to Selim, he implored me to take him with me to my distant home in the West, and was much cast down at being refused. But not even his representations that I should have no one to protect me in that strange land, America, of which I spoke, if I left him behind, availed him, and I said good-by forever to the "greatest warrior, the greatest hero in the world" -- and the greatest donkey -- when I said good-by to Egypt and the Sudan and began the voyage which ended only when I set foot once more on my native soil.

PRINTED BY BENZIGER BROTHERS, NEW YORK.

Contents

Introduction