“He should kill us all,” exclaimed Terence. “We deserve it for leaving the well last night. We should have made an effort for our lives, while we had the chance.”
“You are right,” replied Harry; “we are fools, cowardly fools! We deserve neither pity in this world nor happiness in the next. Colly, my friend, if you meet with any harm I swear to avenge it, whenever my hands are free.”
“And I’ll be with you,” added Terence.
“Never mind me, old comrades,” answered Colin, who seemed less excited than the others. “Do the best you can for yourselves, and you may some time escape from this monster.”
The attention of Harry was now attracted to Sailor Bill, who had turned his back towards one of the black slaves sitting near him, and was by signs entreating the man to untie his hands.
The man refused, evidently fearing the anger of Golah should he be detected.
The second Krooman, who was unbound, now offered to loose the hands of his countryman; but the latter seemed satisfied with his want of freedom, and refused the proffered aid. He also feared death at the hands of Golah.
If left to divine the ultimate intentions of the black sheik, by the knowledge of human nature they had acquired before falling into his hands, the white captives would not have been seriously alarmed for the welfare of anyone of their number. But Golah was a specimen of natural history new to them; and their apprehensions were excited to the highest pitch by the conduct of those whom they knew to be better acquainted with his character.
The behaviour of the woman who had aroused his anger showed that she was endeavouring to resign herself to some fearful mode of death. The wild lamentations of her children denoted that they were conscious of some impending misfortune.
Fatima seemed about to realise the fulfilment of some long-cherished hope, the hope of revenge on a detested rival.