212 
ALARM OF ROBBERS. 
to see a body of enemies charging down some valley. 
All the people ran for their guns, and I hastily de- 
livered out powder and ball. It was amusing to see 
the slaves with their bows and arrows, coming for- 
ward and trying to look martial. I have no doubt 
they would have done their best. When the tumult 
was a little calmed, I learned that two of our people, 
who had remained behind a short time at the 
wells of Aisou, saw a Tuarick coming up to the 
place, and two others slowly following, all three 
mounted on tall maharees. They spoke to the 
one who arrived first, and inquired if many were 
behind. To this they received a laconic answer, 
" Yes." One of them accordingly, feigning to 
retire, left his servant hid behind a rock to watch 
what took place, and ran after us to communicate 
the unwelcome intelligence, that we might expect 
an attack. We marched the whole day with our 
weapons in hand, keeping a sharp look-out in the 
rear. Of course there was no other subject of con- 
versation than the robbers, of whose existence our 
fears made us certain. Were they, after all, led 
by that Sidi Jafel, of whom rumour had lately 
become so complimentary? Whence did these 
encouraging accounts come? Were they circu- 
lated by persons interested in putting us off our 
guard ? Discussing these questions, we pushed on 
through a very arid country, searching for one of 
those two blessings, which seem to be always 
separated in this part of the desert, — water and 
