When we started in the morning, we bade the merchant Waldee adieu.
During the night he had received a courier from Mourzuk, and letters
from the Consul and Mustapha Bey to recommend us to him. Waldee said he
would write us some letters, and send them after us. He leaves his
caravan at Taghajeet, and mounts his maharee for Mourzuk, where he
expects to arrive in the course of fourteen days.
I wrote by him to Government, and to my wife.
In the evening, when it was nearly dusk, five mounted men made their
appearance, two of them leading six empty camels. We did not like the
looks of them, but they gave a tolerable account of themselves.
I treated them to supper--in fact, I am obliged to feed all strangers,
as well as a good number of the caravan. Of feeding these people, as of
giving them presents, verily there is no end. To travel comfortably in
the desert, it would be necessary to possess Fortunatus' purse or
Aladdin's lamp.
During the night these strange fellows disappeared, which circumstance
naturally aroused our suspicions. About two in the morning the
Kailouees, wishing to start early, began to bustle about in the dark, in
order to collect their camels. They could not find any of them. Great
was the consternation. The Tanelkums instantly ran to their drove, of
which three only were missing, and ours also were found to be safe. They
have driven the camels off, in order to prevent our progress, and give
time to the enemy to come up.
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