ter than himself within himself, it conquered me."

She got to her feet gasping, her hands stretched out. "Oh, is it
true--is it true?" she cried.

"The West has conquered," he answered.

"You will help him--you will try to save him?"

"When, a month ago, I read the letter you have read, I tried to save
him. I sent secretly four thousand men who were at Wady Halfa to relieve
him--if it could be done; five hundred to push forward on the quickest
of the armed steamers, the rest to follow as fast as possible. I did
my best. That was a month ago, and I am waiting--waiting and hoping,
madame."

Suddenly she broke down. Tears streamed from her eyes. She sank into the
chair, and sobs shook her from head to foot.

"Be patient, be composed, madame," Nahoum said gently. "I have tried you
greatly--forgive me. Nay, do not weep. I have hope. We may hear from
him at any moment now," he added softly, and there was a new look in his
wide blue eyes as they were bent on her.

CHAPTER XLI. IN THE LAND OF SHINAR

"Then I said to the angel that talked with me, Whither do these bear
the Ephah?

"And he said unto me, To build it an house in the land of Shinar;
and it shall be established, and set there upon her own base."

David raised his head from the paper he was studying. He looked at Lacey
sharply. "And how many rounds of ammunition?" he asked.

"Ten thousand, Saadat."

"How many shells?" he continued, making notes upon the paper before him.

"Three hundred, Saadat."

"How many hundredweight of dourha?"

"Eighty--about."

"And how many mouths to feed?"

"Five thousand."

"How many fighters go with the mouths?"

"Nine hundred and eighty-of a kind."

"And of the best?'

"Well, say, five hundred."

"Thee said six hundred three days ago, Lacey."

"Sixty were killed or wounded on Sunday, and forty I reckon in the
others, Saadat."

The dark eyes flashed, the lips set. "The fire was sickening--they fell
back?"

"Well, Saadat, they reflected--at the wrong time."

"They ran?"

"Not back--they were slow in getting on."

"But they fought it out?"

"They had to--root hog, or die. You see, Saadat, in that five hundred
I'm only counting the invincibles, the up-and-at-'ems, the blind-goers
that 'd open the lid of Hell and jump in after the enemy."

The pale face lighted. "So many! I would not have put the estimate half
so high. Not bad for a dark race fighting for they know not what!"

"They