They spent the afternoon in a thorough cleaning of the engines. Once or twice Salathiel showed himself at the mouth of the cave, and Tom fancied he saw him attempt to signal with his hands. But when Oliphant made a movement towards his carbine, the Jew retreated hastily into the interior and appeared no more. At last all was ready for the voyage. But several hours must yet pass before the ascent could be made. Tom had decided that it would be unwise to arrive at the kasbah until the Moors were either in their first sleep, or, if on their guard, were somewhat tired and nervous with watching. Learning this, Abdul, who had been making observations during the afternoon, left the two Englishmen and was not seen for a time. When he returned, he carried a couple of hares, explaining that he had snared them in the wood that lay half a mile beyond their resting-place. He produced also from the folds of his garment a number of figs and dates which he had plucked from the trees. “Here’s a tuck-in!” cried Tom. “I’m as hungry as a hunter. Oatmeal biscuits are all very well, but they’re a trifle too chippy for my taste. I suppose you, as a Scotsman, think ’em quite succulent, Oliphant?” “Do I, by George? You Englishmen make a good many mistakes about us Scots, and that’s one of them. Besides, I’m only Scotch when I want a stoker’s place—or when I let off some of my stories on the fellows in Booker’s. I was rather had once, though. When I first went to Tabor’s as a little chap, on my first day I dropped my cap somewhere, and asked one of the masters if he’d seen it. I’d just come from our village school up north—a whim of the governor’s, you know—and I suppose I’d a touch of the brogue, for when I said, ‘Please, sir, have you seen my cap?’ he said quite pat, ‘Are _you_ MacFarlane?’ And he called me MacFarlane until I left.” Abdul had chosen a sheltered hollow, and built a rough canopy of branches and leaves. Beneath this he kindled a fire, and cooked one of the hares The table appointments were not exactly those that either of the lads was accustomed to, but, as Oliphant remarked, they were in a primitive country, and it was not unfitting that they should resort to the manners of their ancestors. Both confessed that they had never enjoyed a meal so much as this, and felt all the more ready for the adventures of the night.