f it were a
regular caravan halting-place.

"It is likely enough that there are very few people who know of its
existence. We travelled something like fifty miles a day, and must be
three hundred miles to the west of the Nile. What I have got to do now
is to work willingly, so as to keep in the good graces of the sheik and
his wife, and to learn the language so as to speak it fluently. It is no
use my thinking about escaping until I can pass as a native, unless, of
course, I hear that we have gone up and taken Khartoum. I wonder how
they are getting on at Metemmeh, and whether they have found the
sergeant. If they have, it is likely enough when he finds that I have
never reached the camp he will go to Rupert and tell him who the
trumpeter of his troop was. I hope he won't; it is much better that they
should wonder for some years what has become of me, and at last
gradually forget me, than know that I am a slave among the Arabs. I am
sure that would be a great grief to them all, and I hope they will not
know anything about it until I return some day and tell them."

He was very glad of his blanket, for the nights were cold; and when he
had finished his supper he wrapped himself up in it and was soon asleep.
He was awoke at daylight by voices inside the tent, and a few minutes
later the sheik and his wife came out, and seeing Edgar standing there
the sheik ordered him to go and assist the other slaves; but Amina
pouted: "I thought you had brought him home as a present to me; what use
will he be to me if he is to work in the field all day with the others?"

"But the Kaffir must do some work, Amina; he cannot have his food for
nothing."

"Of course he shall work when I don't want him," the woman said, "but I
shall find much for him to do. He will draw the water, he will fetch the
fuel, he will grind the meal when I have anything else for the women to
do. When he has done all I require of him, then he can go and work in
the fields. It is no use your giving me a slave and then taking him away
again."

"Well, well!" the sheik said, "do with him as you will; women are always
pleased with novelties. You will soon get tired of having this Kaffir
about the tent, but keep him if you will."

Amina took one of the large hospital kettles, and putting it into
Edgar's hands pointed to the well which lay a hundred yards away and
told him to fetch water. When he returned with it she bade him go out
and gather fuel. The last order w