.

The two streets they had just traversed had been lined for the most part
with big warehouses and slave-markets. It was, in fact, the business
part of the town, alive with people during the day, deserted at night.
But now a crisis was at hand. Canaris halted his little party in the
shadow of a building and pointed straight up the street.

"Yonder lies the main avenue," he said. "We must cross it to reach our
destination. Keep yourselves well under control, don't show any fear,
and if any people are about don't look at them. If they address you make
no reply."

Guy marveled at the Greek's coolness under such terrible circumstances.
Every moment was a torture to him as long as they remained in the midst
of these bloodthirsty fiends.

In five minutes they reached the main street. From the slight ridge on
which they stood they could see stretching afar on either hand the
moonlit roadway, spectered with the dark shadows of the houses. They had
been traveling on three sides of a square. Fifty yards down the street
the tower of the Emir's palace was visible, outlined faintly against the
pale-gray sky.

As they stepped from the shadows upon the open roadway, an Arab stalked
from a doorway opposite, and without troubling himself to come nearer
addressed Canaris in a strange tongue.

Guy's heart seemed to leap into his throat as he nervously handled the
revolver that stuck in his belt.

Canaris coolly replied in a low voice. The Arab evinced no intention of
coming any nearer, and in an instant more the fugitives had plunged into
the gloom of another cross street.

On all sides now were rude abodes, some of sandstone, others of clay,
and at some places even tents were to be seen. Laughter and loud talking
came from open windows. Two or three fierce looking Somali warriors
stalked past in dignified silence, and an Arab sheik, wrapped closely in
his garment, looked at them cautiously as he hurried by.

Melton now walked with difficulty. His wound had broken out afresh and
was bleeding. The weight of the rifle was too much for him, and he was
compelled to abandon it in the road.

"A little farther now," said Canaris encouragingly, "and we shall be
safe."

Melton tried to walk faster, leaning on Guy's arm, but at last, with a
moan of pain, he sank to the ground.

"Go on, leave me; save yourselves," he whispered feebly, as they bent
over him and tried to lift him to his feet.

"One more effort, my dear Melton," implo