e of better blood than the
rest, and more capable of performing long journeys. He and his wife and
child rode on one of the animals, Edgar with Yussuf behind him on the
other. At noon they turned off from the southern course they had before
been pursuing. They continued their journey until long after sunset, and
then halted for a few hours to rest the camels.

The moon rose at eight o'clock, and as soon as it was up they started
again, travelling now in a north-easterly direction in order to throw
their pursuers off their track. At daybreak they halted again, this
time in a grove. A fire was lit and Yussuf cooked some meal cakes, and a
bountiful feed of grain was given to each animal. As speed was less an
object than secrecy no move was made until nightfall, in order that they
might pass through the villages unobserved. The journey was continued
until the following morning, when they again halted. They were now
following a track which would, the sheik said, lead them after a few
miles into the main road between El-Obeid and Khartoum.

This time the halt was of but a few hours' duration, as they hoped that
they had baffled their pursuers and could now travel without attracting
any special attention. They had reached the road and were proceeding
along it when Yussuf saw dust rising in the distance. He called the
attention of the sheik to it, and the camels were pressed forward to
their utmost speed. But camels will seldom go far beyond their
accustomed walk; and it soon became apparent that they were being
rapidly overtaken by the strangers who were pressing on behind. By this
time it could be seen that the party following them were also mounted on
camels. Two riders had detached themselves from the main body and were
coming on at a rapid pace.

"They must be mounted on heiries," the sheik said; "see how they come
along! There is no avoiding them."

"They are not the Mahdi's men," Yussuf said presently; "I can see by
their dress that they are in Arab robes."

"They are riding for a purpose," the sheik said, "or they would not
travel so fast, and yet if their purpose were hostile they would hardly
leave their followers so far behind. If they know aught of El Bakhat
they will know that he is not a man to surrender without resistance.
Prepare your gun, Muley. Methinks there are but two men with the four
camels behind, and if we slay these first we shall have no difficulty
with them."

[Illustration: "IT IS RUPERT'S VO