122 WITH KITCHENEE IN THE SOUDAN were to ride due west. Now we can safely dismount. It is getting pitch-dark, and we will lead our horses. I can feel that mine is nearly dead-beat. In a few minutes we will halt and give them half a gourdful of water each. After that we had better go on for another six or seven miles, so as to be well out of sight of anyone on the hills.”

Ten minutes later they heard the dull sound of horses’ hoofs on the sand. They waited five minutes until it died away in the distance, and then continued their course. It was slow work, as they had to avoid every bush carefully, lest if their pursuers halted they should hear the crackling of a dry stick in the still air. Zaki, who could see much better in the dark than his master, went on ahead, while Gregory led the two horses. A good hour passed before they stopped. They gave the horses a scanty drink and took a mouthful or two each, and then, throwing themselves down, allowed the horses to crop the scanty herbage. After four hours’ halt they pursued their way on foot for three hours, laying their course by the stars. They calculated that they must have gone a good fifteen miles from the point where they turned off, and feared that they might miss the caravan track if they went on before daybreak.

CHAPTEK IX SAFELY BACK A S soon as the sun was up they pursued their journey, Gregory’s compass being now available. In half an hour Zaki said, “ There is a sign of the track, my lord,” and he pointed to the skeleton of a camel.

“How many more miles do you think we have to go, Zaki?”

“We must be a good half-way, my lord.” “Yes, quite that, I should think. Looking at the map.