Guy in the Jungle; Or, A Boy's Adventure in the Wilds of Africa — John Shaqi
Guy in the Jungle; Or, A Boy's Adventure in the Wilds of AfricaGraydon, William Murray
General
Guy in the Jungle; Or, A Boy's Adventure in the Wilds of Africa
Graydon, William Murray
Adventure stories; Africa -- Juvenile fiction; Jungles -- Juvenile fiction
The place they had just entered was the great trading locality and slave
market of the town. At this time of year it was deserted, but the empty
stalls and booths stood about in endless confusion.
The wisdom of the route chosen by Canaris was now apparent, for this
labyrinth of paths, which wove an intricate network through the stalls,
offered just the opportunity they wanted; and, following the Greek's
guidance, they twisted in and out in a tortuous line that gradually
brought them toward the opposite side of the market.
The outcry behind them had by this time swelled to a perfect tumult, and
the night air bore it to their ears with startling distinctness.
Fortunately for the fugitives, this vast court was surrounded by grim
slave prisons, and they encountered no one in their flight. They reached
the opposite side of the market in safety, and, plunging in among the
mass of empty prisons, ran on, panting and breathless.
The Greek's white burnous fluttered on ahead, turning angle after angle,
diving into dark alleys and shooting across open spaces. At last he
stopped and, too exhausted to speak, waved his hand in triumph at the
frowning wall of the town that towered directly over their heads for
twenty feet.
Close by the wall was a circular stone tower, partly in ruins, and into
this Canaris dived eagerly. It was an anxious moment to the two who
waited on the outside, but at last the Greek reappeared in triumph with
his hands full. The Jewish merchant had kept his promise.
He paused a second or two to listen to the outcry in the town.
"They are coming nearer," he said. "Keep cool and don't get excited.
They will search every stall in the market before a man comes near us,
and besides this is the last place they would look. They will never
suspect us of any intention to scale the wall. Still we must lose no
time," he added. "Now here is a box of shells apiece; put them in your
pockets, buckle these sabers around your waists, take the rifles I
bought. They are better, so you may throw the others away."
"Forbes can't carry one," said Guy. "What shall we do with it?"
"Leave it behind," replied Canaris. "We have burden enough. I had the
Jew put up the stuff in three oilcloth bags. We must divide it into two
loads."
He turned the contents of all on the ground.
"Yes, everything is here," he said. "Crackers, dates, figs, two lamps, a
box of candles, matches, and two flasks of palm oil. Now, then, for the
final move."
He divided the stuff into two bags, and then, going back into the guard
tower, came out with a bunch of long ropes.
"Hurry up," said Guy. "Do you observe how close the sounds are coming?"
"They are searching the market," said Canaris calmly. "They take us for
a party of drunken Arabs out on a lark."
"Then they don't suspect the truth?" asked Guy.
Canaris laughed.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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