"But where does the other end lead to?" asked Harry.
"Into our native desert, where its opening is concealed by a dense shrubbery," replied Al-Zariel. "We have often found these caves very useful in our excursions against the Turks. But you and your friends shall accompany us to our tents, where the Turks will be bold indeed to seek you."
Harry thanked him for this generous offer.
This arrangement having been made, the party quitted the caves by means of a narrow path leading between two walls of high rock.
Two of the chief"s men, disguised as Turks, were left behind to enter the town and keep an eye upon the condition of affairs there.
The chief of course took command of the party.
He seemed to make Thyra the especial object of his care.
It was evidently a case of "love at first sight" towards her who had been, with equal suddenness, smitten with Jack Harkaway.
And both attachments were equally hopeless.
In some parts the path was so narrow that it was with difficulty they could squeeze through it.
This rugged path proved particularly difficult to Mr. Mole, whose head was, as usual, not entirely free from the fumes of alcohol, and whose ungovernable legs still insisted upon going all ways but the right one.
But his Arab friends occasionally a.s.sisted his progress by prodding him in the back with their long spears, a species of incitement he could well have dispensed with, but which they insisted upon affording.
The poor orphan, too, was, as usual, bowed down with weight of woe.
"Oh, what a cold I am having," he exclaimed, pathetically, feeling for his pocket handkerchief. "It"s tumbling into that fountain that did it.
Oh, dear, what shall I do? It will be my death, I know it will."
Such was the burden of his lament, which greatly amused the others, especially Bogey and Tinker.
They were now on the edge of the desert some distance outside the walls of the town.
The Arab tents could be faintly descried in the distance.
They had still some distance to walk in order to reach them.
The road, however, was now plain and easy, consisting of the usual flat desert sand.
On nearing this encampment, they were challenged by a Bedouin sentinel, but the chief, stepping forward and explaining, the whole group were of course readily admitted.
The black and white camel-hair tents dotted the plain to a considerable distance, and numerous horses and camels were picketed round.
One of the princ.i.p.al Arabs having conferred with Kara-al-Zariel, he went back to his English guests, saying--
"Christian friends, I will now show you what will cheer your hearts even more than the flesh of lambs, or odour of pure bread. Behold!"
And throwing back the curtains of the tent, he exposed Jack Harkaway, attired as a Turk, peacefully sleeping upon a rude couch.
The astonishment and relief of mind experienced by our friends at this discovery cannot be described.
Their joy at finding Jack safe was equal to their wonder how he had escaped.
But what words will denote the ecstasy of Thyra?
With a cry of delight, she ran towards him, and kneeling beside his couch, poured forth thanksgivings to Heaven for his deliverance.
This caused some jealousy to the n.o.ble chief, who now began to perceive how pa.s.sionately the "Pearl of the Isles," as he called the beautiful Greek, was enamoured of the youthful Briton.
"Stay," he said, as Thyra pa.s.sionately impressed her lips on the brow of the sleeping youth. "Stay, or you will wake him. The Christian sleeps the slumber of the weary; disturb him not, and his waking will be all the more joyous."
"Thou sayest right," answered Thyra. "If he is happy, sleeping or waking, "tis not for me to intrude upon his happiness. But I will sit here and watch his slumbers, that I may be the first to greet him when he wakes."
"You mustn"t do any thing of the kind, miss!" interposed the waiter.
"Girls can"t live upon love, though you seem inclined to try at it, and as we"ve got a nice supper awaiting us at that tent, Mr. Girdwood insists upon your coming to join us."
With some difficulty Thyra was induced to a.s.sent, and again left the object of her idolatry sleeping in blissful unconsciousness of her presence.
A short time, however, only elapsed before, either awakened by some outward sound or disturbed by some dream, young Jack started up, much confused and puzzled to find himself in this strange place.
Then he remembered the events of the day.
"Halloa! what"s that?"
Could he believe his eyes, or was it possible that, beyond the group of Bedouins sitting feasting around the camp fire, was another group, among which the figures of Harry Girdwood, of Mole, and of Thyra were conspicuous?
It must be a dream.
Jack leapt to his feet, fixed his eyes on the group, and now recognised also Mr. Figgins, the Will-o"-the-Wisp forms of Bogey and Tinker flitting about and waiting on the others.
Now convinced, Jack rushed out of his tent into the larger one.
A perfect storm of welcome greeted him, and mutual surprise and delight were exhibited by all.
Thyra was beside herself with joy.
"Oh, dear Jack," said she, "I thought never to see you more."
"How did you get away from the Turks?" asked Harry Girdwood and two or three of the others in chorus.
Jack told his story, and in turn listened to his companions"
adventures, and there were mutual congratulations upon their escape.
Never in all Jack"s wanderings was there a happier occasion than this reunion.
CHAPTER Lx.x.xVI.