noon
Sailor Bill had been much surprised at Colin 's conduct the evening before , especially at the patient manner in which the youth had submitted to the task of looking after the child . There was a mystery in the young Scotchman 's behavior he could not comprehend , -- a mystery that soon became more profound . It had also attracted the attention of Harry and Terence , notwithstanding the many unpleasant circumstances of the journey calculated to abstract their thoughts from him and his charge . Shortly after noon , the woman was seen driving Colin up to the _ kafila _ , urging him forward with loud screams , and blows administered with the knotted end of the rope by which she guided her maherry . After a time Golah , apparently annoyed by her shrill , scolding voice , ordered her to desist , and permit the slave to continue his journey in peace . Although unable to understand the meaning of her words , Colin must have known that the woman was not using terms of endearment . The screaming , angry tone , and the blows of the rope might have told him this ; and yet he submitted to her reproaches and chastisements with a meekness and a philosophic resignation which surprised his companions .