owly away.

"A mistake--a mistake," he muttered; "I ought never to have come upon
such a trip. Not fit for it--not fit for it. Disgraceful--disgraceful!
I never--never could have believed it of myself."

He stopped and turned back.

"Send away this man," he said quickly.

Yussuf turned and walked away without another word.

"Preston," exclaimed the old lawyer, "I don't know what to say in my
defence. I have nothing to say, only that I never felt anything so
bitterly before."

"Then say nothing," replied Mr Preston coldly. "You were overcome by
sleep, and no wonder. But it was a terrible risk to run. Fortunately
these men were cowed by what had previously taken place, and they could
not know but what we were keeping a good watch."

"It is inexcusable," cried Mr Burne. "I feel as if I could hardly look
you in the face again. Left helpless here! For goodness' sake,
Preston, tell me what we are to do."

"Quietly consult together what is to be done," was the reply. "There,
man! pray, don't look at me in that imploring way."

"But it is so inexcusable," cried Mr Burne.

"Wait a bit," said the professor smiling; "my turn may come soon, and I
shall have to ask your pardon for doing wrong. There! perhaps it is for
the best. If we had retained the scoundrels they might have been too
much for us and played us some far worse trick."

Mr Burne was about to speak again, but the professor arrested him and
suggested a walk along the shore to the north-east; but it was finally
decided to partake first of an early breakfast, then to pack together
what was left of the food and start at once upon a journey that they
hoped would soon lead them to a village or town.

After a visit to the shore, where the deep blue water came softly
rippling upon the sand, they sat down to their frugal breakfast by the
spring, carefully husbanding the supplies, and then with enough
provision to keep them for about a couple of days, they started off,
this provision being the only luggage they had to carry, what few things
they possessed having been annexed by the Greeks, who seized upon them
by way of payment for the trip, as of course they would not have dared
to make any claim after what had occurred; and besides, it was not
likely that the skipper would care to show himself at any port
frequented by Englishmen for some time to come.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

THE LAWYER'S APOLOGY.

For some distance the way was along good firm san