nel Carrington," he muttered under his breath, "as you
value your freedom."

The tightened grasp instantly relaxed, and Guy turned his head slightly
to obtain a clearer view of Oko Sam.

This action hastened the climax, for his burnous caught on the button of
Colonel Carrington's coat and fell to the ground. A glaring torch
passing at the moment completed the catastrophe, and the keen eyed Galla
chief uttered a howl of rage and amazement as he recognized his old
enemy of the market place at Berbera.

Never did Captain Chutney's quick wits do him a better service than at
that moment.

In one glance he took in the whole situation, the astounded chief and
his counselors, the swarthy mass of savages ready for instant action,
the armed escort that stood between him and the edge of the encampment.

More speedily than words can tell it, his determination was reached.
With a warning cry to Canaris, a hasty injunction to Colonel Carrington
to hold fast, he snatched a short dagger from his waist and plunged it
an inch or more into the flank of the Greek's camel, and then into that
of his own animal.

The frightened and agonized beasts pranced madly for a second or two and
then plunged desperately forward, trampling the amazed guards right and
left.

It was over in a moment; a howl from the infuriated chief, a terrific
uproar from the vast throng, and then, spurred to greater efforts by the
tumult in their ears, the valiant camels thundered out into the desert,
heedless of the scattered rifle-fire, the volley of whizzing spears.
With tremendous strides they bore their precious burdens toward safety
and freedom, while the silence of the African night was rent by the
venomous cries of their bloodthirsty pursuers.

For the moment they were safe, but in that long four mile race that lay
ahead many perils might be encountered, and it was even within the realm
of possibilities that the fleet-footed Gallas would overtake the
heavily-burdened camels.

It was no time for conversation or explanation. A fervent "Thank God!"
burst from Colonel Carrington's lips as he realized that he had fallen
into the hands of friends, while Sir Arthur, feebly beginning to
comprehend what had happened, ejaculated several times, "Bless my soul,"
as he clung with might and main to the Greek's waist.

Faster and faster they sped over the plain, until the tumult behind them
was lost in the muffled tramp of the camels' hoofs. They rode side by
side,