e sheik and his followers were on foot early. They
divided the camels with the greatest care into two portions, debating
earnestly on the merits of each animal; then the goods, which were of
but trifling value, were also divided. When all was done the Mahdi's
officer came down and closely inspected both lots of animals.

"There is nothing to choose between them," he said; "you have made a
just division. I will take the right-hand lot, and the horse is of
course mine;" and to the disgust of the sheik he ordered one of the
followers to take it to his tent. "Here is a permit for you to journey
and trade as you will." The soldiers were already under arms, the Arabs
hastily packed their tents and cooking-pots on the camels that remained
to them, and the two parties set off almost at the same instant in two
opposite directions. When they had travelled for an hour the sheik
halted his caravan and explained the situation to his followers.

"As soon as the Mahdists reach the town they will hear of us, and hot
pursuit will be instantly set on foot; therefore it is necessary for the
present to abandon our plans and for you to return at once to the wady
from which we started. But if our pursuers obtain news of a caravan of
our size they will be sure to overtake us; therefore it is also
necessary that we should separate at once. Let each man, therefore, take
his camel, his wife, and his belongings, and journey singly. Let some go
east and some west, and making a circuit to avoid El-Obeid reach the
edge of the desert as best you may. Do not wait there for each other,
but let each as he reaches it strike across to the wells. When you reach
the wady wait there for me. I go with my wife and Muley and Yussuf. We
shall take two camels and journey north. There I hope to obtain a sum
for the surrender of Muley, which will more than repay us the loss we
have suffered to-day."

The Arabs at once obeyed the orders of the sheik and in a few minutes
were speeding across the country.

"We will go on for another three or four hours' march," the sheik said,
"before we turn to the east. Our pursuers will be sure to inquire for us
at every place they pass, and if they hear that solitary camel men have
been seen making their way across the country they will turn off at once
in pursuit. It is therefore better that they should move off some
distance before we turn off." The sheik had chosen two camels which,
though not remarkable for their looks, wer