Silence and fatigue finally performed their accustomed offices,
and before the morning all but the sentinels were again buried in
sleep. How well these indolent watchers discharged their duties, after
the assault, has never been known, inasmuch as nothing occurred to
confirm or to disprove their subsequent vigilance.
Just as day, however, began to dawn, and a grey light was falling from
the heavens, on the dusky objects of the plain, the half startled,
anxious, and yet blooming countenance of Ellen Wade was reared above
the confused mass of children, among whom she had clustered on her
stolen return to the camp. Arising warily she stepped lightly across
the recumbent bodies, and proceeded with the same caution to the
utmost limits of the defences of Ishmael. Here she listened, as if she
doubted the propriety of venturing further. The pause was only
momentary, however; and long before the drowsy eyes of the sentinel,
who overlooked the spot where she stood, had time to catch a glimpse
of her active form, it had glided along the bottom, and stood on the
summit of the nearest eminence.
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