suit on the same old plan, and seemed to growl out sullenly
that he did not want to fight, but he could.

The response to this needed no thought or striving to comprehend, for
the Emir waved his sword scornfully towards the entrance and half turned
his back, while the strangers began to move off slowly and sulkily,
amidst the mocking laughter of his men.

But Frank saw no more as he sat upon his horse, which had begun to
fidget about and suddenly turned to inflict a playful bite at its
companion's mane, making the latter retaliate, when Frank's mount swung
half round, reared a little, and began to fence and paw at the other.

The young Emir said something, but even if Frank could have comprehended
his companion's words he would not have heard, for a strange feeling of
giddiness had attacked him, there was a singing in his ears, and his
heart beat with slow, heavy throbs which seemed to send the blood
gushing up in painful floods to his throat, as he felt that at any
moment he might fall from his horse.

Over exertion? The reaction after the excitement of the pursuit? The
hot fit of wild desire to kill the savage enemies who sought his life,
causing him to sink back into a state of feebleness that was extreme?

Nothing of the kind. It was the emotion caused by a strange doubt of
his sanity, for at that critical minute his horse's movements had
brought him facing the door from which the Emir had hurriedly rushed out
directly after the alarm was given.

It was by the merest accident that he turned his eyes in that direction,
and when he did it was to notice a camel that had been led out from a
side building since the chief came upon the scene, and it struck the
young Englishman that it was one of the most attractive of the curious
animals that he had seen. It was of a rich creamy tint and free from
the ragged aspect so common among its kind, long and clean-limbed,
muscular, and looking as if it possessed great speed, while its saddle
and trappings, which were of crimson leather, ornamented with gold and
silken fringe, indicated that it was the property of some man of rank,
in all probability the Emir himself, and brought out ready for him in
case he should choose to ride it in place of the horse.

The excitement was over, and a peculiar feeling of inertia had come over
Frank. He was wearied by what he had gone through, and the self-imposed
task of playing his dumb part troubled him. All he cared for now was to