AMONG THE DERVISHES 119 had left him; and they are likely to guess from his account that I had been down at one of the emirs’ tents, and was probably a spy. I know that I ought to have paused a moment and given him another stab, but I could not bring myself to do it. It is one thing to stab a man who is trying to take one’s life, but it is quite another when he has fallen and is helpless.”

Zaki had made no reply. He could scarcely understand his master’s repugnance to making matters safe when another blow would have done so, but it was not for him to blame.

They travelled all night, and when the moon rose were able to get along somewhat faster, but its light was now feeble and uncertain. As soon as day broke they rode fast, and at ten o’clock had left behind the range of hills stretching between the wells of Abu Klea and Jebel Sergain.

“We ought to be safe now,” Gregory said as they dismounted. “ At any rate the horses must have a rest ; we have done over forty miles.”

“We are safe for the present, my lord; it all depends whether or not they think you are a spy. If they come to that conclusion, they will send at once to Abu Klea; and if a strong body is stationed there they may have sent a party on to Gakdul or even to El Howeyat, for they will feel sure that we shall make for one of the wells.”

“ How much water have you got in the bags ? ” Zaki examined them. “Enough for ourselves for five or six days, but only enough for two drinks each for the horses and for ourselves for a couple of days.”

“ That is bad. If we had had any idea of coming away so soon, we would have filled the large bags yesterday. I had intended to send down the horses in the morning, therefore left them only half-full, and they must have leaked a good deal to get so low. See if one leaks more than the other.”

It was found that one held the water well, but from the other there was a steady drip. They transferred the water from this to the sound bag.