e that his brother's slavery might be
ameliorated by a change of masters.

"Better that than how he is," thought the young man at last, "for the
Emir undoubtedly respects us, and that last experiment must have raised
us all wonderfully in his eyes."

He was thinking of this as he passed one of the best houses he had
seen--a place where, in a rough courtyard, armed men were grouped with
their camels and horses. There was a great covered well in the centre,
with dejected-looking men busy drawing water, and through the open
windows of the low terraced house he had glimpses of the turbaned,
white-robed occupants.

The place interested Frank for reasons he could not have explained, and
he would gladly have sat watching what was going on; but it was
evidently the dwelling of some powerful dervish Emir, and his companion
rode up to one of the armed men seated upon a slightly built,
swift-looking camel. Their colloquy was very brief, and the young Emir
turned to him, said something, and pressing his horse's sides galloped
onwards towards a wide opening, the steed Frank rode keeping close to
its fellow's side.

A minute later the young Baggara drew bridle again in the middle of the
opening, about which were several low buildings, and the place being
without interest, save that there were several groups of fighting men
about, and some slight scaffold-like suggestions of building being
commenced, Frank's thoughts went back to the house they had passed, as
he felt again that it must be the palace of some powerful chief among
the conquerors, while the open space where they stood was the Soudanese
idea of a yard for his followers.

Then a sudden thought occurred to him, that it was the home of the
Emir's wounded friend, and at once it had a fresh interest; but he had
no time for further thought, for the young Baggara gave his hand a wave
round, laughing the while in a peculiar way, and then pointed forward,
urging his horse into a gallop, for there was an open, unencumbered road
before them.

Frank's beautiful steed needed no urging, but sprang forward on the
instant, and their gallop was not checked till they were right out of
the city and upon the open plain beyond, where their horses stretched
out together like a leash of greyhounds, the young chief whooping and
shouting with delight as he found that his companion rode easily and
well, while he evidently enjoyed the invigorating rush through the air.

At the end of thre