d then
fixed his eyes half-wonderingly upon Frank, before turning again and
continuing his way, quite ignoring the fact that those behind were
waiting to pass.

When he stopped he had turned his camel across the narrow road,
completely blocking the way, and when he went on again, after gazing his
full, he hurried his camel a little so as to overtake the last of the
ironed slaves, and lashed at him sharply, making the poor wretch wince
and take a quick step or two which brought him into collision with his
fellow-sufferer in front, causing him to stumble and driving him against
the next, so that fully half of the gang were in confusion.

The result was a savage outburst from their driver, who pressed on,
making his whip sing through the air and crack loudly, as he lashed at
the unfortunates, treating them far worse than the beasts that perish;
but not a murmur arose as they stumbled on through the foul sand of the
narrow way.

But there was one sound, a low, harsh, menacing grating together of
teeth, and the Sheikh, who had long been inured to such scenes, turned
sharply, to see that Frank's eyes were blazing with the rage within him.

"Yes," he whispered warningly, "it is horrible; but they are the
conquering race from the south. We must bear it. Yes."

"Hah!" sighed Frank, and he shuddered at the bare idea of his brother
being a victim to such a fate.

Just at that moment the roadway widened out a little, and the Sheikh
took advantage of this to press on, so as to get his party past the
depressing scene.

The camel he rode protested a little, and at the moaning growl it
uttered the Baggara turned a little, and his eyes met those of Frank,
looking dark and menacing.

"Hasten, Ben Eddin," whispered the Sheikh, and the young man's camel
made step for step with that of the Sheikh; but before Frank's eyes
quitted those of the slave-driver the man said something fiercely,
raised his whip, and was in the act of striking at the young Englishman
when there was a plunge, a bound, and the leader of the Emir's guard had
driven his beautiful Arab horse against the flank of the driver's camel,
sending the poor beast staggering against the mud house to the left and
nearly dismounting the rider.

In an instant the savage turned with raised whip upon his aggressor, but
the guard's keen, straight sword flashed out of the scabbard, and the
sight of the rest of the party cowed him, while pointing forward, the
guard sat watchi