all about the place, looking for what property they
could pick up, before I could get safe away. These
men, seeing the chase, all tried to cut off my retreat.
However, I dodged them all by turns, running fast
across them, and bobbing as they threw their spears
after me, until I reached the shore, when I had the
satisfaction of seeing the last man give up the pursuit
and leave me to myself. I was now fast fainting from
loss of blood, and sat gently on a mound of sand,
picked the knots which bound my hands open with my
teeth, and exposed my breast to the genial influences
of the refreshing sea-breeze, which at sunrise, as this
was, is indescribably pleasant. But what a gloomy
prospect was now before me !! I was growing weaker
every minute; my limbs were beginning to stiffen
and the muscles to contract, and I thought there was
no help probably nearer than Ain Tarad; what was
to be done ? I could not travel the distance, and I
must perish miserably by slow degrees, from starvation
and exhaustion, in the dreary desert; far better, thought
I, had the spear done its worst, and no lingering would
have followed. Whilst reflecting in this strain, my
eyes, wistfully gazing on the few remaining huts of
Berbera, lit upon some female figures beckoning to
me, but I could not divine who they were, or what was
their meaning.
I rose as a last hope, and hobbled towards them, for
my right leg was nearly crooked up double, and was
so weak it could not support the weight of my body
but for an instant at a time. Drawing nearer, I discovered
them to be the four women whom we the
evening before permitted to join our camp. Just then
I saw some men hurrying from the eastward along the
shore, endeavouring to meet me.
These, I soon perceived, were the old Balyuz and
several of our servants. As soon as they arrived, they
told me all that had happened. Immediately on the
outbreak, the soldiers fired their guns, and all but one
or two at once departed. Stroyan, he supposed, was
killed at the outset; Lieutenants Burton and Heme
had run away with him immediately after I left the
central tent to fight. The former had been speared in
the face, the latter had been much bruised with war-
clubs, and some of our men had received severe sword-
cuts. After escaping from the fight, Herne took refuge
in the empty huts of Berbera, and at daybreak sent a
servant to detain the Ain Tarad vessel, which had so
providentially come in the previous evening. My companions
were then on board of her, and had sent the
Balyuz with the men to search for me, and pick up
anything they could find.
I was now carried to the vessel, and stretched upon
the poop in safety, and felt more truly thankful for
this miraculous escape than words can tell. It is only
after a deliverance of this kind one fully values or can
properly appreciate the gift of life. My companions
seemed downcast and full of sorrow for the sad misfortune
which had so disastrously terminated our long-
cherished hopes, and had deprived us so prematurely
of an old and valued friend, especially dear to me, as