er mind. Humanity,
reason, argument,--all were gone, and there remained the brutal
humiliation of force. And all the time, down there by the second rocky
point, their steamer was waiting for them,--their saloon, with the white
napery and the glittering glasses, the latest novel, and the London
papers. The least imaginative of them could see it so clearly: the white
awning, Mrs. Shlesinger with her yellow sun-hat, Mrs. Belmont lying back
in the canvas chair. There it lay almost in sight of them, that little
floating chip broken off from home, and every silent, ungainly step of
the camels was carrying them more hopelessly away from it. That very
morning how beneficent Providence had appeared, how pleasant was
life!--a little commonplace, perhaps, but so soothing and restful, And
now!

The red head-gear, patched jibbehs, and yellow boots had already shown
to the Colonel that these men were no wandering party of robbers, but a
troop from the regular army of the Khalifa. Now, as they struck across
the desert, they showed that they possessed the rude discipline which
their work demanded. A mile ahead, and far out on either flank, rode
their scouts, dipping and rising among the yellow sand-hills. Ali Wad
Ibrahim headed the caravan, and his short, sturdy lieutenant brought up
the rear. The main party straggled over a couple of hundred yards, and
in the middle was the little, dejected clump of prisoners. No attempt
was made to keep them apart, and Mr. Stephens soon contrived that his
camel should be between those of the two ladies.

"Don't be down-hearted, Miss Adams," said he. "This is a most
indefensible outrage, but there can be no question that steps will be
taken in the proper quarter to set the matter right. I am convinced that
we shall be subjected to nothing worse than a temporary inconvenience.
If it had not been for that villain Mansoor, you need not have appeared
at all."

It was shocking to see the change in the little Bostonian lady, for she
had shrunk to an old woman in an hour. Her swarthy cheeks had fallen in,
and her eyes shone wildly from sunken, darkened sockets. Her frightened
glances were continually turned upon Sadie. There is surely some wrecker
angel which can only gather her best treasures in moments of disaster.
For here were all these worldlings going to their doom, and already
frivolity and selfishness had passed away from them, and each was
thinking and grieving only for the other. Sadie thought o