--when you--"

"But I don't believe it is so," cried the brave Irishwoman. "No, I'll
never believe it until I see John's body lying before me. And when I
see that, I don't want to live to see anything more."

The last Dervish had clattered down the khor, and now above them on
either cliff they could see the Egyptians--tall, thin, square shouldered
figures, looking, when outlined against the blue sky, wonderfully like
the warriors in the ancient bas-reliefs. Their camels were in the
background, and they were hurrying to join them. At the same time
others began to ride down from the farther end of the ravine, their dark
faces flushed and their eyes shining with the excitement of victory and
pursuit. A very small Englishman, with a straw-coloured moustache and a
weary manner, was riding at the head of them. He halted his camel
beside the fugitives and saluted the ladies. He wore brown boots and
brown belts with steel buckles, which looked trim and workmanlike
against his khaki uniform.

"Had 'em that time--had 'em proper!" said he. "Very glad to have been
of any assistance, I'm sure. Hope you're none the worse for it all.
What I mean, it's rather rough work for ladies."

"You're from Halfa, I suppose?" asked the Colonel.

"No, we're from the other show. We're the Sarras crowd, you know.
We met in the desert, and we headed 'em off, and the other Johnnies
herded 'em behind. We've got 'em on toast, I tell you. Get up on that
rock and you'll see things happen. It's going to be a knockout in one
round this time."

"We left some of our people at the Wells. We are very uneasy about
them," said the Colonel. "I suppose you haven't heard anything of
them?"

The young officer looked serious and shook his head. "Bad job that!"
said he. "They're a poisonous crowd when you put 'em in a corner.
What I mean, we never expected to see you alive, and we're very glad to
pull any of you out of the fire. The most we hoped was that we might
revenge you."

"Any other Englishman with you?"

"Archer is with the flanking party. He'll have to come past, for I
don't think there is any other way down. We've got one of your chaps up
there--a funny old bird with a red top-knot. See you later, I hope!
Good day, ladies!" He touched his helmet, tapped his camel, and trotted
on after his men.

"We can't do better than stay where we are until they are all past,"
said the Colonel, for it was evident now that the men from abov