Edgar said gravely, although with difficulty
repressing a smile. "Who can say what may happen?" Then seeing that this
answer was also considered satisfactory he went on: "Your slave is
hungry and thirsty. He has been wounded, and his bonds hurt him greatly.
If he is to be of use to you, will you order that food and drink be
given him?"

The chief nodded, and at a motion of his hand two of his followers freed
Edgar from his bonds, and a dish containing some boiled meal and a jug
of water were placed beside him. Edgar drank deeply, but was only able
to take a few mouthfuls of food as he was feverish and in considerable
pain; for the wound in his arm, which would have been comparatively
slight had proper attention been paid to it, was inflamed and angry, and
the arm greatly swollen.

As no further attention was paid to him he returned to the outhouse,
took off his karkee tunic, and tearing some strips from it, wetted them
and laid them on his shoulder. Presently the door was closed, and he
heard a heap of brushwood thrown against it, an effectual way of
preventing an attempt to escape, for as the door opened outwards the
slightest movement would cause a rustling of the bushes and arouse the
Arabs who were sleeping in the court-yard. There was no window. Edgar,
seeing that escape was out of the question, laid himself down and tried
to sleep, but the pain of his arm was so great that it was some hours
before he succeeded in doing so. The next morning he was allowed to go
out into the yard, and for some time no attention was paid to him. Then
a considerable hubbub was heard in the town, with much shouting and
yelling. An Arab ran in at the gate with some news. Edgar could not
understand his hurried words, but the effect was evident. The men seized
their arms, and then at the sheik's order Edgar was again securely bound
and fastened in the outhouse.

In the course of an hour he heard firing, first dropping shots and then
two or three sharp volleys, and knew that the British were advancing
against the town, and that the Arabs had gone out to skirmish with them.
Then there was a long pause, and he heard the sound of the English
field-pieces. He listened for musketry, but in vain.

"It is only a reconnaissance," he said to himself. "Those little guns
would not batter down the mud walls round the town without an expense of
ammunition that could not be afforded. No doubt the troops could take it
by storm, but surely the general