I was again restless when night came on, and was still awake when the
moon was near setting, about three A.M., under tent, at which time
suddenly I heard the wife of Said begin to squall, with the sound of the
trampling of feet around my tent. I conjectured immediately what was up,
"Another attack!" I repeated mechanically to myself, and getting up,
began to dress myself. At first I thought our assailants were at some
distance off, but when the boxes began to be drawn from around my tent I
exclaimed, "Oh, oh, they are upon me, and are carrying off the things."
Still I had become so accustomed to these attacks, or attempted attacks,
by night and by day, that I felt quite indifferent, and began to dress
myself as if nothing was the matter, or simply as if some one had called
me up suddenly to breakfast, or that we were to start off early on our
way.
I found my clothes, however, with some difficulty, and tore them a
little in putting them on. At last I went out. All our people were up,
as well as the Germans. On inquiring the news, I learned that a band of
robbers had attacked us; from six to ten had been counted. My servants
had all decamped, with the exception of Said. Some of them had been
struck by the robbers, and others had been threatened, and had ran away.
My servant Said, as soon as he sallied out and saw what was going on,
seized his matchlock, and pointed it at the assailants, especially those
who were removing the saharees (large square boxes).
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