The call for water was apparently unheeded by the Arab men, but it was evidently music to many of the children of the village, for it attracted them to the door of the goat-penn, around which they clustered, listening with strong expressions of delight.
Through a long night of indescribable agony, the cry of “Water! Water!” was often repeated in the penn, and at each time in tones fainter and more supplicating than before.
The cry at length became changed from a demand to a piteous prayer.
Chapter Sixty Nine.
Victory.
Next morning, when the Arabs opened the door of the prison, Sailor Bill and Colin were found unable to rise; and the old salt seemed quite unconscious of all efforts made to awaken his attention.
Not till then did Jim’s resolution begin to give way. He would now submit, to save them from further suffering; but although knowing it was the wish of all that he should tender their submission on the terms the Arabs required, for a while he delayed doing so, in order to discover the course their masters designed adopting towards them.
“Are you Christian dogs willing to earn your food now?” inquired the old sheik, as he entered the goat-penn.