our they stopped at a small pool in what during
the rainy season was the bed of a river, and here they halted. The
camels having drunk their fill were given an ample allowance of corn
from the saddle-bags, and were then picketed close at hand, while
Yussuf prepared a meal for their masters.

"What is the country like that we have to traverse?" Edgar asked.

"By to-morrow night," Ben Ibyn said, "we shall have reached the
mountains. We are on very high land now, and have a great descent to
make to reach the coast. We must inquire the way to the pass by which
the road from Kassala descends to Massowah. If we strike it without
failure we shall be safe; but if we miss our way, and the horsemen from
Kassala get there first, we shall be in a bad position. They will have
heard of our arms and strength, and are sure to have too strong a force
for us to attack. If we fail to find the road at once, our best plan
would be to turn and travel north until we reach a road going down to
Suakim."

"Would that one of us had travelled here before!" El Bakhat said. "If we
could but have continued our journey to-night we should be safe. Upon
the desert one can travel by the stars, but the ground is getting far
too broken to cross at night; we should only weary our camels in vain."

"How far is it to the gorge you speak of, El Bakhat?"

"I know not for certain. Those who travel the road have told me that it
is three or four days' journey with laden camels from Kassala. Our
camels can easily do three days' march in one, and if we have the good
fortune to strike the road near the mouth of the pass we may pass
through it before dark to-morrow; but by that time they may be there
from Kassala."

"Well, I suppose we must take our chances," Rupert said.

He and Edgar soon lay down and were fast asleep, but the two Arabs
talked together for a long time before they followed their example. At
daybreak the party were on their feet.

"We talked it over last night," Ben Ibyn said; "and we both think that
it were best not to proceed. The horsemen would have reached the town
with the news three hours after noon, and had they sent off at once
horsemen and fast camelmen down the road to Massowah, we think that they
would be at the pass before we could possibly reach it. Had we known the
country and could have travelled all night, we should have been there
long before them. As it is, the risk would be too great. We are already
some distance north of t