Every one snatched
up his weapons as a small group approached; and all waited with
impatience to learn whether they came as friends or enemies.
Our uneasiness was soon quieted. The newcomers were known to some of our
people, the Tanelkums, and soon scraped acquaintance with us. They paid
a visit to my tent, and I gave them a number of little things, with
which they were very much gratified. There was reason, then, to hope
that our first impressions of security were well-founded, and I began
writing my journal as if we had really arrived in a land of peace.
Suddenly a man, mounted on a maharee, brought us news, at first in a
friendly way, that an immense number of Tuaricks were pursuing us; and
then, throwing off the mask, in their name demanded of our escort that
they should deliver us up to them. This demand the Kailouees, of course,
rejected with indignation; but the circumstance put our people on the
_qui vive_, and we kept up a fire of musketry for two or three hours
during the succeeding night.
At sunset, Waldee, the great merchant of Mourzuk, came to the
encampment. His caravan was stopping half an hour higher up. He gave us
much encouragement, and eloquently recommended us to the care of all our
people, the camel-drivers and escort. Waldee has travelled this route
fourteen years. He is just the man to do it,--a small spare fellow with
an expression of much intelligence, which he really possesses.
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