The two women, still persisting in their design to relieve the wants of their unfortunate husband, were then knocked down, kicked, beaten, and finally dragged inside the tents.
This scene was witnessed by Fatima; who, instead of showing sympathy, appeared highly amused by it,--so much so as even to give way to laughter! Her unnatural behavior once more roused the indignation of her husband.
The wrong of being robbed--the humiliation of being bound--the knowledge that he himself, along with his children, would be sold into slavery--the torture of hunger and thirst--were sources of misery no longer heeded by him; all were forgotten in the contemplation of a far greater anguish.
Fatima, the favorite, the woman to whom his word should have been law,--the woman who had always pretended to think him something more than mortal,--now not only shunning but despising him in the midst of his misfortunes!
This knowledge did more towards subduing the giant than all his other sufferings combined.
"Old Golah looks very down in the mouth," remarked Terence to his companions. "If it was not for the beating he gave me yesterday, I could almost pity him. I made an oath, at the time he was thwacking me with the ramrod, that if my hands were ever again at liberty, I'd see if it was possible to kill him; but now that they are free, and his are bound, I've not the heart to touch him, bad as he is."
"That is right, Terry," said Bill; "it's only wimin an' bits o' boys as throws wather on a drowned rat,--not as I mane to say the owld rascal is past mischief yet. I believe he'll do some more afore the Devil takes 'im intirely; but I mane that Him as sits up aloft is able to do His own work without your helping Him."
"You speak truth, Bill," said Harry; "I don't think there is any necessity for seeking revenge of Golah for his cruel treatment of us; he is now as ill off as the rest of us."
"What is that you say?" inquired Colin. "Golah like one of us? Nothing of the kind. He has more pluck, endurance, obstinacy, and true manly spirit about him than there is in the four of us combined."
"Was his attempt to starve you dictated by a manly spirit?" asked Harry.
"Perhaps not, but it was the fault of the circumstances under which he has been educated. I don't think of that now; my admiration of the man is too strong. Look at his refusing that drink of water when it had been several times offered him!"