ling to someone on the brow of the precipice!

Open-mouthed I watched the result. The glare of his torch prevented me
from distinguishing the crest of the rock distinctly, yet as I looked in
the direction he was gazing I presently saw far away on the summit,
glittering like a brilliant star, a bright light that seemed in answer to
Omar's signals to appear and disappear rapidly, evidently flashing back a
reply from the mysterious realm above.

Suddenly the distant light became totally obscured, and from Omar's lips
there fell an expression of disappointment. His own fire-brand was
burning but dimly, therefore, rushing to the embers, he drew another from
the fire, blew upon it violently until it flamed, and then recommenced
the puzzling signals, the system of which seemed very similar to those
used in the British Army.

Again and again he repeated the long and short waves of the flaming
torch, but no answering light appeared. All was dark upon the towering
summit, that loomed up black and lonely against the deep vault of dark,
star-lit blue. His was a weird figure, standing in the centre of the
circle of uncertain light shed by the flambeau, watching eagerly, and
waving his signals with untiring energy.

"Fools!" he cried aloud to himself. "They are so fearful of treachery
that they feign not to be able to distinguish the name of their ruler."

But ere the words had fallen from his lips the star-like light again
shone forth white, with intense brilliancy, but in a different position.
It seemed to have moved along the brink of the precipice, nearer to us,
and its whiteness had been somehow intensified. In appearance it was very
similar to an electric search-light, and so powerful were its rays that
they streamed forth in a long line of brilliancy that slowly swept the
valley where the corpses of the Arabs lay piled until it reached us,
illuminating our camp with a light almost bright as day.

Several minutes elapsed, and Omar, standing in the centre of the light,
casting a long grotesque shadow behind, continued waving the word he was
so desirous of signalling. In the meantime those who were working the
light had undoubtedly ascertained the extent of our numbers, for very
soon the light slowly travelled over the adjoining rocks, and even
searched the further end of the valley; then suddenly it shed upon us
again, and instantly became obscured.

Nothing daunted, Omar continued his signals until at last they were
evid