nder. "Hassan and I both
thought we saw a fellow sneaking in the courtyard last night--just
before dawn--when it was too mighty dark to see much; but as he sheered
off we didn't give the alarm. But it seems Hassan is pretty well
acquainted with their charming tricks, and he was suspicious from the
first."

"But was this beggar prowling round by the well?"

"We couldn't see much, but this morning Hassan investigated and found
footmarks on the sand leading directly to and from the well; and he is
convinced that is what the brute was doing."

"How much water have we left?"

"Well, that's the very devil of it," said Garnett ruefully "It seems we
had a fair quantity--you know it all has to be brought from that same
old well--but that silly little Rosa thought this morning that she'd
like a bath, so without asking permission she tipped it all into a kind
of tin tub there was on the premises and performed her ablutions
therein."

"Well, I confess I don't blame her," said Anstice rather dryly. "I feel
as if I'd give a fiver for a bath myself--this damned sand makes one so
infernally gritty."

"Just so--and the tin basin we wash in--in turns--isn't exactly
luxurious!" Garnett's eyes twinkled. "All the same, things look pretty
serious on the water question. We must have water--unfortunately the
desert thirst is no fancy picture--I'm like a lime-kiln myself at this
moment--but if the well is poisoned, and Hassan seems convinced it is,
we can't drink the water, can we?"

"Certainly not." Anstice hoped his voice did not betray his dismay at
this disclosure. "Where's the nearest well--outside of here?"

"Over in the village--or rather, there's one outside the village which
would be less public." Garnett laughed a little. "But I don't quite see
how we're going to fetch water from it. You know the beggars are keeping
a pretty smart lookout--and if they caught sight of one of us sallying
forth we'd be potted as sure as a gun. And every available man is wanted
here."

"I suppose"--Anstice had been thinking--"I suppose it would be quite
impossible to get out by the rocky side? I mean could one possibly climb
down? The Bedouins don't seem to guard that side, and one would be in
the desert, well away from their band."

"Yes--but I doubt if it would be feasible. Unless--what about a rope? I
saw a great coil of rope in one of the dungeons downstairs this
morning." A new alertness leaped into his bright eyes. "I say, let's go
and