The peasants entreated their convoy not to sleep in this place.
"To sleep," cried Carathis; "what an excellent thought! I never sleep
but for visions; and, as to my attendants, their occupations are too many
to close the only eye they each have."
The poor peasants, who were not over-pleased with their party, remained
open-mouthed with surprise.
Carathis alighted, as well as her negresses, and severally stripping off
their outer garments, they all ran in their drawers, to cull from those
spots where the sun shone fiercest the venomous plants that grew on the
marsh; this provision was made for the family of the Emir, and whoever
might retard the expedition to Istakar. The wood-men were overcome with
fear when they beheld these three horrible phantoms run, and, not much
relishing the company of Alboufaki, stood aghast at the command of
Carathis to set forward, notwithstanding it was noon, and the heat fierce
enough to calcine even rocks. In spite, however, of every remonstrance,
they were forced implicitly to submit.
Alboufaki, who delighted in solitude, constantly snorted whenever he
perceived himself near a habitation; and Carathis, who was apt to spoil
him with indulgence, as constantly turned him aside, so that the peasants
were precluded from procuring subsistence; for the milch goats and ewes,
which Providence had sent towards the district they traversed, to refresh
travellers with their milk, all fled at the sight of the hideous animal
and his strange riders.
Pages:
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142