A courier from Derne met us here with news that Joseph's army was approaching Derne. This caused a panic among our Arabs, and even Hamet seemed to be in doubt as to whether it were wise to proceed. I was forming a rather low opinion of his bravery, but tried to lose such thoughts by thinking that if he were a hundred times less a man he would be better than his brother. Some of the camel drivers fled. We heard, too, that many of Hamet's followers were planning to turn back. General Eaton again stopped their rations and ordered that no food be served them until they marched forward. The general had a lion's heart and was a born leader. Obstacles like these only served to bring out his firm qualities.
The Sheik il Taiib was again the center of the revolt, since he had resolved to go no farther until news arrived that our vessels were awaiting us at Bomba. When General Eaton reproached him for his want of courage and fidelity, he flew into a rage and put himself at the head of such Arabs as would follow him, which was about half of our force, and started back to Egypt. Hamet begged General Eaton to send an officer to pacify him and persuade him to return, but the General refused.
"We have paid him for his services," he declared, "and we have a right to expect that he be faithful to his pledge; I will not permit him to dictate measures to us!"
"But he may take part against us," pleaded frightened Hamet.
"Let him do it," the general answered, "I like an open enemy better than a treacherous friend!"
We continued our march. Messengers then arrived from the rebellious sheik, assuring us that he was really on his way back to Egypt.
The general sent word back to him: "I will take vigorous steps for the recovery of the cash and property you have drawn from me by fraud!"
In a few hours a new messenger arrived with the information that the Sheik il Taiib would join us if we halted to await his coming.
At last his caravan hove in sight.
"You see," he said to the general, to mask his defeat, "what influence I have among these people!"