e his horse face about and rode on, he had only just
reached the guide, when a clattering of horses' hoofs behind him made
him look sharply round.

The enemy had advanced, and about half a dozen men had taken up the
vacated position at the elbow of the track.

There they stopped, looking menacing enough, but making no advance,
merely watching the progress of the little party as they retreated round
the curve towards the other corner which they had passed on their way.

"Had we not better get on faster?" said the professor.

"No," replied Yussuf; "we must go slowly, or they will close in; and
your excellency does not want blood to be shed. Our only chance is by
keeping a bold front, and retreating till we can get help. They will
not dare to attack us if we keep on like this, for they do not care to
risk their lives."

"Go on then," said the professor; and the retreat was kept up for about
ten minutes, and then came to a stop, for Hamed, on reaching the other
corner with his baggage-horses, stopped short suddenly, and on Lawrence
trotting up to him, the professor saw him too stop, and present his gun.

"We are trapped, effendi," said Yussuf sadly.

"Trapped!" cried Mr Preston sharply. "What do you mean?"

"The dogs have another party who have been hidden in that side track,
and they have come out as soon as we passed. We are between two fires.
What shall we do?"

It was plain enough, for the next minute Hamed and Lawrence were seen to
be driven back, and a party similar to that upon the first corner stood
out clearly in the morning air--a gang before, and one behind, and the
precipice above and below. It was either fight or yield now, and Yussuf
had asked the question, what was to be done.

Shut in as they were completely, the little party closed up together on
the curved path, Hamed requiring no telling, while the enemy made no
attempt to advance.

Mr Burne took out his box, had a large pinch of snuff, and then blew
his nose so outrageously that the horses pricked their ears, and Ali
Baba snorted and looked as if he would try another of his wonderful
leaps if that kind of thing were to be continued.

"Well, Yussuf," said the professor, "what is to be done?"

The guide sighed deeply and looked full in his employer's face.

"Excellency," he said softly, "I feel as if all my bones were turned to
water."

"Oh, indeed, sir," cried Mr Burne sharply; "then you had better turn
them back to what they were."