hundred yards away to the right,
and would then fire as quickly as I could, moving while I did so; so
that they might think that there were many attacking them. Then, my
lord, in the confusion you and your wife with the child should try to
make your escape. As soon as the camp is aroused and they are advancing
against us we would move round to the left of the camp, and you would
join us there and make straight across the country and be far away by
daylight."

"But how could we travel without camels?" the sheik broke in
impatiently; "they would surely overtake us before long."

"There are deserted villages in which we might hide until the pursuit is
over," Edgar said. "As they would gain all the camels and goods it would
matter little to them that three or four persons had escaped."

"Not until they reached El-Obeid," the sheik said. "Then they would
learn who we were, and would scour the country for us. Camels we must
have if we are to escape. Besides, I should be a ruined man, and might
as well be killed at once."

"Not altogether ruined, sheik," Edgar said. "You remember that we buried
many of your valuables and arms at the wady."

"We could never get there without camels," the sheik said gloomily.

"It might be done, sheik. Several men accompanied the camels on foot,
and we could perform the journey so on our way back; but I should not
counsel that. My idea was that we should get as far away from here as
possible, and should then leave your wife and child in some village. We
could take with us goods which would be quite sufficient to ensure a
welcome for her until you return. Then I should propose that you and I
with Yussuf, who is certainly faithful, should make our way down on foot
as Arab fighting men to Berber, and then on to Osman Digma, who is, we
know, close to Suakim. Thence we might readily find means of escaping
him and entering the town, and then, as I told you, I can promise you a
ransom that would enable you to buy more camels and goods than you have
lost here, to return to your wife and child and take them with you to
your wady. As to camels, I do not altogether despair of getting some.
They are, as usual, grazing outside the camp, they know Yussuf's voice
and mine, and when we first escape we might lead four of them away and
take them to the left of the camp, where you are afterwards to meet us.
Before morning we could be very many miles away."

"Ah! if you could do that!" the chief said, showi