the journey was recommenced. They now kept among the sand-hills so as to
avoid the villages near the river, in case a party should be sent out
from Metemmeh in pursuit of them. Edgar had difficulty in keeping up
with the rest, for the hot sand burned his naked feet, and he had to
avoid the prickly grass through which his companions walked
unconcernedly. They continued their journey until nightfall, and then
went down to the river for a drink. Edgar had suffered greatly from
thirst, which he had in vain endeavoured to assuage by chewing dry
dates. His feet were causing him agony, and after satisfying his thirst
he sat with them in the water until his companions again moved back into
the desert.

Edgar could not obtain a wink of sleep for the pain of his feet, and in
the morning he showed them to the sheik, who only laughed at their raw
and swollen condition. As, however, he was desirous that his slave
should continue in good condition, he told him to tear off a strip from
his cotton cloth, and himself walked down to the river with Edgar. There
he allowed him to again bathe his feet, and showed him some broad smooth
leaves which he bade him gather; these were placed under his feet, which
were then bandaged with the strip of cotton. As soon as this was done
they returned to the party, and again set out.

Edgar found the application greatly relieved the pain, and as the leaves
and bandages kept the feet from contact with the sand, he was able to
get on fairly. He felt, too, the benefit from the drink of water he had
obtained from the river, and was able to keep up with the party until,
late in the afternoon, they approached the village where the natives had
sent their camels.

Edgar was left in charge of two of the Arabs half a mile from the
village when the others went on, the sheik saying that in the morning
they were to await him half a mile on the other side of the village.
There was a good deal of grumbling on the part of the men who were left
with Edgar, and he saw that nothing would please them better than to cut
his throat; but when they looked threatening towards him, he simply
laughed, knowing that they dare not use their weapons, and that, did
they venture to strike him with hand or stick, he was a match for both
of them.

It was nearly two years now since he had stood up against the two tramps
at Aldershot, and in that time he had grown from a lad to a powerful
young fellow, with every muscle hardened by exe