n husks in a corner of the hut, drew a skin rug over me and,
having commended myself to the protection of the Power above, fell fast
asleep.

CHAPTER XII

THE FIRST CURSE

The next thing I remember was feeling upon my face the sunlight that
poured through a window-place which was protected by immovable wooden
bars. For a while I lay still, reflecting as memory returned to me upon
all the events of the previous day and upon my present unhappy position.
Here I was a prisoner in the hands of a horde of fierce savages who had
every reason to hate me, for though this was done in self-defence, had
I not killed a number of their people against whom personally I had no
quarrel? It was true that their king had promised me safety, but what
reliance could be put upon the word of such a man? Unless something
occurred to save me, without doubt my days were numbered. In this way
or in that I should be murdered, which served me right for ever entering
upon such a business.

The only satisfactory point in the story was that, for the present at
any rate, Ragnall and Savage had escaped, though doubtless sooner or
later fate would overtake them also. I was sure that they had escaped,
since two of the camelmen with us had informed Marut that they saw them
swept away surrounded by our people and quite unharmed. Now they would
be grieving over my death, since none survived who could tell them
of our capture, unless the Black Kendah chose to do so, which was not
likely. I wondered what course they would take when Ragnall found that
his quest was vain, as of course must happen. Try to get out of the
country, I suppose, as I prayed they might succeed in doing, though this
was most improbable.

Then there was Hans. He of course would attempt to retrace our road
across the desert, if he had got clear away. Having a good camel,
a rifle and some ammunition, it was just possible that he might win
through, as he never forgot a path which he had once travelled, though
probably in a week's time a few bones upon the desert would be all that
remained of him. Well, as he had suggested, perhaps we should soon be
talking the event over in some far sphere with my father--and others.
Poor old Hans!

I opened my eyes and looked about me. The first thing I noticed was that
my double-barrelled pistol, which I had placed at full cock beside
me before I went to sleep, was gone, also my large clasp-knife. This
discovery did not tend to raise my spirits,