r was over and the darkness prevented the
descent of any more boats, the Canadians received orders to return to
the upper camp to be in readiness for the morning's work. Dan had been
required for steering early in the day, and had been separated from his
friend, so Scotty found himself upon the rocky path leading to the head
of the cataract quite alone.

Dan had promised to join him, but when Dan was in the company of the
voyageurs there was generally sufficient cause for delay. Scotty
walked on slowly, glad to be alone for a few moments after the
tremendous toil of the day; the desert was quiet, and acted upon his
spirits as did the deep, fragrant swamps at home.

The sun had set and the desert, which had glowed golden in the
blistering sun all day, now lay grey and ghostly in the moonlight.
Away ahead stood the ruins of an ancient temple overgrown with dusty
mimosa bushes. The whispering Nile, brown and gleaming in the daytime,
ran swiftly past, touched to silver by the moon that hung in the great
empty space overhead. The breeze from the north was cool; the night
was quiet and restful. He strolled along easily, looking back
occasionally for signs of his comrades; a solitary figure in the barren
desert.

The toil over rocks and rapids of the last few months, though it had
hardened his physique and left him in superb health, had played havoc
with his clothes; and he was so disreputable and tattered a figure,
that he smiled to himself, as he pictured Granny's distress could she
have seen him.

He reached a turn in the rocky path and stopped to listen for sounds of
those who were to follow. The breeze from the north brought faintly
the music of the old French Canadian song that had so often enlivened
alike the toil of the shantymen on the Ottawa and the pilots on the
Nile.

"En roulant, ma boule roulant,
En roulant, ma boule."

The boys were coming, then; he seated himself upon a rock to await
them. The sound died away for a moment, only the dry rustle of the
mimosa bushes disturbed the silence.

He seemed absolutely alone in the world, until from a break in the
rocks to his right a camel emerged with its stately, undulating stride.
It bore an officer presumably riding down to the foot of the cataract.
The long, fantastic shadow moved across the grey sand. Scotty could
hear the rider's voice urging the animal forward. As they came out
into the open, the two figures were silhouetted against the pa