Then it is too late for flight," the sheik said, reseating himself;
"they would be here long before we could saddle our camels. It is
doubtless a body of the Mahdi's troops, but if they come from the south
they will have heard nothing against us."

When the Mahdists rode up the sheik rose and saluted their commander.

"Who are you?" the officer asked.

"I am an humble person, one El Bakhat of the Jahrin tribe, travelling
with my camels and some little merchandise."

"Have you the permit of one of the Mahdi's officers to trade?"

"No, my lord, I did not know that it was needful."

"Assuredly it is needful," the officer said. "Your camels and goods are
forfeited, and you yourself and your people must travel with us to
El-Obeid, where inquiries will be made about you."

"My lord," the sheik said, "I am a poor man and have done no harm. After
fighting against the infidels I went back to my people with such spoil
as we had taken and have dwelt there quietly, and was ignorant that it
needed a permission for me to journey with my camels."

"Well, if you can prove that when you get to the city," the officer
said, "the governor may take a lenient view of the case, and may content
himself by taking a portion only of your camels as a fine; but if you
are lying it will be worse for you. Remember now that you are
prisoners, and will be shot down if one of you attempts to escape."

The sheik bowed submissively. The officer ordered some of his men to
keep a rigid watch over the prisoners, and then paid no further
attention to them.

The sheik re-entered his tent and sat down stern and silent without
speaking. Amina, who had heard what had passed, was in the greatest
state of alarm, but saw that her husband was not to be spoken to at
present. She went to the door of her tent and beckoned to Edgar, in whom
she felt the most implicit confidence.

"You heard what has passed, Muley?"

"I heard, lady; the position is full of danger."

"You are fertile in expedients. Can you not suggest some thing? You see
if we are taken to El-Obeid, where they have had news of the expedition
sent from Khartoum, and its disappearance in the desert, my husband
would be sent in chains to the Mahdi, and you know what his fate would
then be, while the least that will befall us all will be to be sold into
slavery. What then do you advise?"

"With your permission I will think it over," Edgar replied. "The
position is a difficult one; the danger is