"Up, up, my father! there is no time to lose!" cried Mustapha, grown
stronger in a moment. "Up, up! for the robbers are close upon us!"
In fact, wild cries and clouds of dust showed that the foe had taken
the alarm, and were hurrying on. But already Ahmed and Mustapha were
mounted, and Solimin, like a ship at full sail, was speeding away with
them. And where was the camel could overtake him, even when he was
loaded double? Fast and swift his long, swinging trot bore them onward,
and before two hours were gone, all traces of the pursuers had
disappeared behind them, and they were free to turn their course toward
the brown tents where rest, and food, and welcome had waited so long
for their coming, and where, after a little time, their hardships and
sufferings seemed to them only like a bad dream.
As for Solimin, he hardly could be more tenderly treated or beloved
than before this adventure; but if the freshest water, the prickliest
furze,--if bowls of sour milk;--if a triple necklace of shells,--if
brushing and grooming,--if soft pats from childish fingers, and sweet
names murmured in his ears by girlish voices can make a camel happy,
then is Solimin the happiest of heries.
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