hin an hour, and, having made ready my own
baggage and assisted Higgs with his, we went to look for Orme and Quick,
whom we found very busy in one of the rooms of an unroofed house. To all
appearance they were engaged, Quick in sorting pound tins of tobacco
or baking-powder, and Orme in testing an electric battery and carefully
examining coils of insulated wire.

"What's your game?" asked the Professor.

"Better than yours, old boy, when Satan taught your idle hands to punch
Shadrach's head. But perhaps you had better put that pipe out. These
azo-imide compounds are said to burn rather more safely than coal.
Still, one never knows; the climate or the journey may have changed
their constitution."

Higgs retreated hurriedly, to a distance of fifty yards indeed, whence
he returned, having knocked out his pipe and even left his matches on a
stone.

"Don't waste time in asking questions," said Orme as the Professor
approached with caution. "I'll explain. We are going on a queer journey
to-night--four white men with about a dozen half-bred mongrel scamps of
doubtful loyalty, so you see Quick and I thought it as well to have some
of this stuff handy. Probably it will never be wanted, and if wanted we
shall have no time to use it; still, who knows? There, that will do. Ten
canisters; enough to blow up half the Fung if they will kindly sit on
them. You take five, Quick, a battery and three hundred yards of wire,
and I'll take five, a battery, and three hundred yards of wire. Your
detonators are all fixed, aren't they? Well, so are mine," and without
more words he proceeded to stow away his share of the apparatus in the
poacher pockets of his coat and elsewhere, while Quick did likewise with
what remained. Then the case that they had opened was fastened up again
and removed to be laden on a camel.

CHAPTER VI

HOW WE ESCAPED FROM HARMAC

As finally arranged this was the order of our march: First went an Abati
guide who was said to be conversant with every inch of the way. Then
came Orme and Sergeant Quick, conducting the camels that were loaded
with the explosives. I followed in order to keep an eye upon these
precious beasts and those in charge of them. Next marched some more
camels, carrying our baggage, provisions, and sundries, and finally in
the rear were the Professor and Shadrach with two Abati.

Shadrach, I should explain, had selected this situation for the reason,
as he said, that if he went first, after w