ithin my arms."

And then he threw his hands heavenwards with a great cry.

"Allah, be praised! Oh Allah, unto thee I give thanks."

And sank upon his knees, touching the sand with his forehead, and
rising with hands outstretched strode quickly to the clump of palms
near the gate in the wall surrounding Jill's dwelling, to meet three
camels stalking upon the road leading from civilisation towards him;
one golden-brown with a closed palanquin swaying upon its back, the
others dark brown, one laden with great skins, almost empty of water,
and bundles of every size and description, the other mounted by the
head keeper of camels, who, having brought the animals to their knees,
ran to his master and knelt before him with his mouth open as though to
speak, and a look of wracking anxiety and indecision upon his usually
imperturbable countenance.

But a slight motion of his master's hand sent him hurriedly towards the
servants' quarters, where he was received by scores of his own kind
simply bursting with curiosity, whilst Hahmed silently held out his
hands to help Jill from the palanquin.

She stumbled badly as her feet touched the ground, and bit on a cry as
the man's strong hand caught and steadied her as she stood swaying
slightly.

"Remove thy veil for I fain would see what winds have blown upon thee!"

The little figure, wrapped in countless yards of the soft purple satin
habarah, recoiled a step as the words fell with the hiss of icy water
upon red hot steel; a little nervous laugh rising like thin vapour on
the strained atmosphere.

"And so the great Hahmed would expose the face of his wife to the
driver of camels? Behold, has his pride fallen."

And she continued with the sharp edge of an approaching nerve storm in
her voice.

"Methinks it would be better for him to send his fleetest camel to the
great city, and bid it wait without the house of the Blue Door, wherein
are to be found those who, unveiled and unashamed, will come and dance
upon the sand before such men as--yon camel driver!"

A slight sound of tearing silk and the scented veil lay in Hahmed's
hands, whilst the great moon threw its rays mercilessly on the little
face.

Deep purple rings made the eyes seem twice their size, the nose looked
pinched, the mouth slightly twisted, whilst great drops from the damp
brow fell upon the silk covering she held heaped up around her.

"Allah!" ejaculated Hahmed, as he looked and looked again. "Methink