ded, and then to see if the
guard were still at their posts.

But there was no further sign of preparation for a start, and the chief
of the guard was nowhere to be seen.

Sunrise came, and with it the hurrying of feet, which proved to be a
large body of men making for the vast expanse of mud-houses nearest to
the river, where the rough forts, of which Frank had never obtained a
glimpse, lay. When the men had passed, the silence became oppressive
once more, and Frank and his companion went in to find Harry nursing his
arm, which had taken to throbbing violently.

Just then Sam was ready with the coffee, borne in a steaming brass pot
in company with a brass tray and so many brass cups.

"You'll have some coffee, gentlemen?" he said respectfully; "it will be
so refreshing," and setting down the tray he began, though no one
answered, to fill the little cups.

At that moment there came from far away the dull, short report of a gun,
and Sam nearly dropped the coffee pot.

"What's that?" he cried, with his eyes starting widely open.

"A heavy gun," said Harry, starting up. "Then this is what all this
gathering meant."

He had hardly spoken before in rapid succession two more reports were
heard, followed by crash after crash, distinct and peculiar, but
unmistakable.

"Bullets," said Harry, who began to pant with excitement, as he made for
the door. "Hark at that, and that! Oh, it has come at last, and I am a
prisoner here!"

At that moment a camel was seen passing the window. One of the Sheikh's
men was leading it, and directly after Frank uttered a cry of joy, and,
followed by the professor, ran to the door, just in time to encounter
Ibrahim, who hurried in, looking haggard and bent.

The next minute he was shaking hands with all, and eagerly took the
coffee Sam offered to him. He drank it with avidity, after adding to it
some cold water from a jug close by.

"Hah!" he ejaculated, and then quickly--

"I went out, Excellencies, to make a long round so as to find out all
that was to be known. It has been hard work to avoid being cut off.
But I have seen much."

"Yes, yes; pray speak out," cried Frank.

"The Khalifa has gathered his forces together, and yesterday evening
they made their advance away from the town--an enormous army, seeming to
drive their enemies back."

"Their enemies!" cried Harry excitedly. "The English and Egyptian
armies?"

"Yes, Excellency; they are many miles away, by the riv