38 LIFE WITH THE HAMRAN ARABS. 



shot as if they knew that I had other occupation in hand 

 than their massacre. 



It was very interesting to watch how keenly the Arab 

 hunted for my footprints, and when found how carefully 

 he followed them up, and my hopes of success rose propor- 

 tionately ; but after a time all traces were lost in the 

 soft sand, and then after he had made sundry fresh starts 

 I saw that, so far as he was concerned, all chance was 

 over, for he would persist in wandering farther and farther 

 away from the proper direction. At this time a burnt 

 tree caught my eye that I remembered to have passed, 

 and finding my track there, I followed it up until belt 

 and all were in my possession. One long shout and 

 my black friend was with me, and his delight at my 

 success took so demonstrative a form that he caught me 

 up in his arms, kissed my shoulders over and over again, 

 -and then, not satisfied, took off my helmet, kissed it all 

 over, and finally began dancing around me. I really 

 believe his delight was partly genuine, though it was 

 without doubt much increased by my giving him the 

 two dollars. Then, for the first time, I had an oppor- 

 tunity of trying the effects of rapid camel-riding, for 

 the Arab, having mounted behind me, with thumps and 

 shouts kept the poor beast at a very rapid trot for two 

 hours, excepting an occasional halt necessitated by my 

 feeling as if all the breath had been jolted out of my 

 body ; and then, much to my relief as well as surprise, 



