ce and trust that all will be well."

"Yes, Excellency; that is what we must do always."

"Then let us sleep while we can," said the doctor. "I am very weary,
and there is sure to be plenty more hard work to-morrow."

The Hakim's words were taken as law, and as there were very few
preparations to make, a short time only elapsed before all were sleeping
soundly, it being deemed superfluous to attempt to watch, since they
were utterly helpless in the enemy's hands.

At such a time restless wakefulness might have been expected, but sleep
came, deep and refreshing, out in the desert whenever they were in the
neighbourhood of water. Frank lay thinking of the day's work with its
risks and chances, and then of his brother far away to the south; but in
about a quarter of an hour he was sleeping soundly as the rest, till
hours had passed, when, as if conscious of something being near, he
awoke suddenly, to find that all was dark and so still that, setting
down his feelings to imagination, he sank back, with a sigh, and was
dropping off to sleep again when from far away out in the desert there
was the shrill neigh of a horse, and he started up again, to hear the
challenge answered from where the Baggara horses and camels were
picketed or lying about.

This was startling, suggesting as it did the approach of other horsemen,
who might be inimical and about to attack. On the other hand, though,
he reasoned that a single horse might have broken away from where it was
tethered. He recalled, too, what the Sheikh had said about sentries
being scattered about so that no danger could approach without an alarm
being given, and he was settling down once more when, plainly enough and
increasing in loudness, there came through the darkness of the night the
dull, rustling trampling of horses coming at a sharp canter over the
sand.

But for a minute or so there was no warning uttered--no cry of alarm.
Then all at once there was a shout and a reply. Silence again, and
Frank lay wondering whether this was a good or evil sign, since a sentry
might have been cut down at once.

Then voices were plainly heard as of people talking loudly, and it
seemed to be impossible that this could mean danger. So he lay still,
making out by degrees that a large body of horsemen had ridden up, and
from the talking that went on there seemed to be no doubt that earlier
in the night this party must have gone out upon a reconnaissance while
the Sheikh's p