to show, laid the thin hand back on the bed, and
took his patient's temperature, his heart sinking still lower as he read
the thermometer's unimpeachable testimony.

Strive as he might, he could not rid himself of a fear that Bruce
Cheniston's earthly race was ran; and catching sight of Iris' face as
she stood on the opposite side of the bed, he felt, with a quick
certainty, that she too realized that only by a miracle could her
husband be restored to the health and vigour to which his young manhood
surely entitled him.

"Come, Cheniston," he said presently, in answer to Bruce's last words,
"you mustn't talk of pegging out. You have been bad, I can see that, but
you know dozens of travellers in Egypt enjoy a taste of enteric and come
through it as good as new. You got this through drinking polluted water,
I understand?"

"Yes." Bruce smiled, haggardly, once more. "Too bad, wasn't it, that
after playing with water ever since I came out here it should turn on me
in the end. Serves me right--for--trusting an Arab--I suppose."

His voice died weakly away; and Anstice gently bade him keep quiet for a
while.

"No use talking and exciting yourself," he said, for he could see the
other's stock of strength was lamentably small. "Lie still and allow me
to talk over affairs with Mrs. Cheniston--we will put our heads together
and evolve some plan for your benefit." He hardly knew what he said, so
filled was his heart with a pity in which now there was no faintest
tinge of resentment for the unfair bargain which this man had once
driven with him.

With a sigh Cheniston closed his eyes, and appeared to relapse once more
into a kind of stupor; and when, in obedience to a silent gesture, Iris
withdrew to the window, Anstice joined her there immediately.

Such remedies as yet remained to be tried Anstice determined to employ;
but though he told himself fiercely that if mortal man could save Bruce
Cheniston from the grave he should assuredly be saved, he experienced
that hopeless feeling which all who gaze in the very face of death know
only too well; and he did not dare to meet Iris' eyes as he conversed
with her in a carefully-lowered tone.

"I'll sit up to-night, Mrs. Cheniston, and you must try to get some
sleep. I suppose"--he broke off suddenly, remembering the position in
which they stood--"I suppose some of you watch--for the enemy"--he
laughed with something of an effort--"every night?"

"Yes. I don't think we any of