e long the sides of the ravine would touch; but always
when it came to this, it opened out directly after.

The heat was intense, for there was not a breath of wind. The gully was
perfectly dry, and wherever there was a patch of greenery, it was fifty,
a hundred, perhaps a thousand feet above their heads.

"How much farther is it to the village where we shall stop for the
night?" said the old lawyer, pausing to mop his forehead.

"There is no village that we shall stop at, effendi," said Yussuf
quietly. "We go on a little more, and then we shall have reached the
remains that Mr Preston wishes to see."

"Bless my heart!" panted the old gentleman. "You are killing that boy."

"I am quite well," said Lawrence smiling, "only hot and thirsty. I want
to see the ruins."

"Oh, go on," cried Mr Burne. "Don't stop for me."

Just then they were proceeding along a more open and sunny part when the
professor's horse in front suddenly shied, swerved round, and darted
back, throwing his rider pretty heavily.

"Mind, sir! Take care!" shouted Yussuf.

"What's the good of telling a man to take care when he is down?" cried
Mr Burne angrily; and he tried to urge his horse forward, but it
refused to stir, while Lawrence's had behaved in precisely the same
manner, and stood shivering and snorting.

"Your gun, sir, quickly!" exclaimed Yussuf.

"What is it? Robbers?" cried Mr Burne excitedly as he handed the guide
his double-barrelled fowling-piece.

"No, sir; one of the evil beasts which haunt these valleys and slopes.
Is the gun loaded, sir?"

"Loaded? No, man. Do you suppose I want to shoot somebody?"

"Quick, sir! The charges!" whispered Yussuf; and when, after much
fumbling, Mr Burne had forced his hand into his cartridge-bag, Yussuf
was closing the breech of the gun, having loaded it with a couple of
cartridges handed by Lawrence, who had rapidly dismounted and drawn his
sword.

It was evident that Mr Preston was stunned by the fall, for he lay
motionless on one side of the ravine among the stones.

"No, no, stop!" cried Yussuf as Lawrence was making his way towards the
professor.

The lad involuntarily obeyed, and waited breathless to see what would
follow, as Yussuf advanced cautiously, gun in hand, his dark eyes
rolling from side to side in search of the danger.

For some minutes he could see nothing. Then, all at once, they saw him
raise the gun to his shoulder, take a quick aim and fire, when the
ho