Harar.

To Guy's surprise, Melton did not believe that he had been singled out
to accompany Guy.

"No, no, Chutney," he said, "depend upon it, Makar has some other
object in view. I believe now that he will effect your escape in some
way, but don't be surprised to find yourself sent back to Zaila alone.
Makar's clemency will be extended to no one but yourself."

"Nonsense," returned Guy. "I tell you he means to save you, too.
However, we shall not be parted, Melton. I assure you of that. I will
accept no deliverance that does not include you, too."

Forbes made no reply, and for a time they rode on in silence. Absorbed
in conversation, they had failed to observe that the aspect of the
country had begun to change. They were now ascending a slight ridge, and
from its crest could be seen the vague outline of mountains on both the
right and the left, while all around them, in place of the dreary sand,
were low bushes and vegetation. The camel's thorn and tamarisk shrub of
the desert had disappeared. Once some huge animal glided across their
path, and one of the Arabs half raised his rifle, but lowered it again.

With feelings which they would have found it hard to express, Guy and
Melton saw the dawn come creeping over the sky, and just as it became
fully light, they rode over the crest of a hill and perceived in the
distance a mass of walls and turrets stamped against the pale-gray
sky.

A pleasant breeze blew from the mountains which rose steep and rocky on
all sides, while the valleys were richly wooded, and a silver thread,
curving to and fro, marked the presence of a hillside stream.

The little caravan now descended into a narrow gorge and traveled
rapidly along the course of a brawling torrent for nearly an hour.
Then, crossing the stream, they rounded a sharp spur of rocks, and the
dreaded city of Harar was before them.

Thirty years before the intrepid Burton had penetrated to that hotbed of
fanaticism, and had by a miracle come back alive. From that day to this
none had dared to emulate him.

Well might the two young Englishmen shrink from meeting that detestable
despot, Rao Khan, who ruled his people by the sword, and hated all
Christians with, hatred that fanaticism alone can breed.

The caravan ascended the hill, and across the brow of the ridge stretched
the massive, irregular wall of the town. The great brazen gates were
closed, and in the oval turrets that rose sentinel-like above the wall
appear