at is well done, Zaki. Let us mount and be off, at once. We will
lead the horses. It is too dark to gallop among these bushes, and the
sound of the hoofs might be heard. We will go quietly, till we are well
away."

Not another word was spoken, till they had gone half a mile.

"We will mount now, Zaki. The horses can see better than we. We will go
at a walk. I dare not strike a light to look at the compass, but there
are the stars. I do not see the north star, it must be hidden by the
mist, lower down; but the others give us the direction, quite near
enough to go by.

"It is most unfortunate that the fellow who rushed against me was a
sheik. I could see that, by the outline of his robe. If it had been a
common man, there would not have been any fuss over it. As it is, they
will search for us high and low. I know he wasn't killed on the spot,
for he shouted after I had left him; and they are likely to guess, from
his account, that I had been down at one of the emirs' tents, and was
probably a spy.

"I know that I ought to have paused a moment, and given him another
stab, but I could not bring myself to do it. It is one thing to stab a
man who is trying to take one's life, but it is quite another when he
has fallen, and is helpless."

Zaki had made no reply. He could scarcely understand his master's
repugnance to making matters safe, when another blow would have done
so, but it was not for him to blame.

They travelled all night and, when the moon rose, were able to get
along somewhat faster; but its light was now feeble and uncertain. As
soon as day broke, they rode fast, and at ten o'clock had left behind
the range of hills, stretching between the wells of Abu Klea and Jebel
Sergain.

"We ought to be safe now," Gregory said, as they dismounted. "At any
rate, the horses must have a rest. We have done over forty miles."

"We are safe for the present, my lord. It all depends whether or not
they think you are a spy. If they come to that conclusion, they will
send at once to Abu Klea; and if a strong body is stationed there, they
may have sent a party on to Gakdul, or even to El Howeyat, for they
will feel sure that we shall make for one of the wells."

"How much water have you got in the bags?"

Zaki examined them.

"Enough for ourselves for five or six days; but only enough for two
drinks each, for the horses and for ourselves, for a couple of days."

"That is bad. If we had had any idea of coming away so soo