is urgently required at the Fort. Besides Cheniston, who
seems, from what I can gather, to be in about the same state as before,
Garnett got wounded last night when the besiegers tried to force an
entrance, and I suppose the sooner you get to them the better."

"Well, there's something in that," conceded Anstice, reluctant to deepen
the disappointment in Sir Richard's face. "You see, sir, the sooner I
fix up Cheniston the better--but why shouldn't this fellow go and fetch
help instead of you?"

Sir Richard's eyes brightened, but after another colloquy with the Arab
his former air of dejection returned.

"He says--confound him--that the authorities in Cairo would pay more
attention to me than to him--and I suppose he's not far wrong. Also he
points out that with his knowledge of the land and of the language he
would be of more use to the garrison"--he used the word half
ashamedly--"than I, who know little of either. His plan is for me to
return immediately with all possible speed to fetch help, while you and
he seek, under cover of night, to enter the Fort, a task which I
gather," said Sir Richard grimly, "is not altogether devoid of risk."

Anstice said nothing, but his mouth was set in a hard line which
betokened ill for anyone who attempted to bar his way into that same
Fort, and with a half-strangled sigh Sir Richard continued his speech.

"It seems on the whole the best plan, though God knows it's hard to turn
round and leave my only daughter in this damned hole. Still, I see the
logic of the thing, and if you are willing to go forward, why, there's
nothing left for me but to turn back."

"I'll go forward all right," replied Anstice quietly. "And if you will
trust me, I will do my best to carry on until you arrive with
reinforcements."

"In that case I'll go at once," said Sir Richard more briskly. "Which is
the better horse? Yours, I think--and if so I'll take it and hurry back
to Cairo. But first let's have a look at the provisions--I'm a tough old
fellow and can do without a lot of stuff, but I daren't risk failing on
the way. Luckily we are lavishly provided."

Hearing this speech the Arab smiled gleefully and produced from some
mysterious recess in his robe a square package, tied with string, and
handed it, still smiling, to Sir Richard, who took it with a rather
mystified expression.

"It's food--what you call grub," explained Hassan proudly. "The ladees
make it--say it carry the Effendi back to _le