th fingers that absolutely trembled; and when after a long and steady
stare he lowered them and turned to his companion his face was very
serious.

"Anstice, I hope to God I'm mistaken, but that fellow looks uncommonly
like Hassan--and from the haste he's making I should say he had been
sent out to meet us. And that can only mean disaster--either Bruce is
worse, or----" He broke off suddenly, his fine old face suddenly grey.

"Oh, it won't be so bad as that, sir!" Unconsciously Anstice replied to
the unspoken suggestion. "Possibly your daughter has sent this chap to
relieve your mind--Cheniston may have taken a turn for the better--heaps
of things may have happened."

"Quite so." Sir Richard was replacing his glasses in their case with
oddly fumbling movements. "But I wish to God we were safely back ... we
can't even see the village for these confounded palm trees!"

As though the horses understood and sympathized with the mental tension
of their riders they sprang forward with renewed energy; and some hard
riding brought the two men within hailing distance of the approaching
native.

"It is Hassan all right," said Sir Richard with a rather painful attempt
at composure. "Let us hurry on and find out what is amiss at the
village."

As the native drew nearer it was easy to see that he was the bearer of
important news. His coffee-coloured face was shining with drops of
perspiration, and his breath came in pitiful gasps as he hurried up to
Sir Richard and began pouring out his story in a flood of mixed Arabic
and English which was quite unintelligible to Anstice.

"Speak slower, man, slower!" Sir Richard spoke emphatically, and for a
space the native obeyed; but it was evident from the look of mingled
consternation and rage in his hearer's face that the story was one of
dire import.

When, presently, the Arab ceased, his tongue positively lolling out of
his mouth like that of a thirsty dog, Sir Richard turned to Anstice with
an air of determination.

"Things have been moving, with a vengeance, in our absence," he said
grimly. "It seems that yesterday morning early young Garnett found a
couple of Bedouins prowling about his place and helping themselves to
his choicest produce; and being a hotheaded young fool he let fly at
them with his revolver, the result being that by a most unlucky chance
he winged one of the rascals and the other assisted him off, vowing
vengeance on the whole little English colony of eight s