e hubbub arose in the courtyard as the
Bedouins realized that they were verily in a trap. Some of them,
gathering their robes about them in undignified haste, managed to
scramble over the wall in the confusion and so make good their escape,
for the time at least; but the majority were neatly cornered; and though
they fought magnificently, as was their wont, they realized only too
soon that they were outnumbered; and in a comparatively short space of
time the fight was over.

* * * * *

Just as the rising sun flooded the desert with superb pink brilliance
the whole party, rescuers and besieged, met in the courtyard.

Both Anstice and Garnett had been in the thick of the last affray; and
the soldier who was apparently in command of the expedition took
advantage of the breathing-space to congratulate the defenders on the
splendid defiance they had offered to their foes.

"We heard the row quite a long way off," he said, "and hurried for all
we were worth, thinking we'd be too late if we didn't hustle. But from
the vigour of your defence it seems to me we might have taken it easy."

"Good job for us you didn't," returned Anstice rather grimly. "We'd got
down to our last round--another five minutes and we'd have been wiped
out."

"Whew!" The other man whistled. "Pretty close call, what? Lucky for you
we _did_ hustle, I see."

"Yes--but can you explain how it is you're here so soon? We hadn't dared
to look for you till to-night or to-morrow morning."

"Oh, that's easily explained. We fell in with your messenger--Sir
Richard Wayne, isn't it?--on our way back to Cairo. We were returning
from a little punitive expedition"--he smiled pleasantly--"and were only
too glad to set out on another jaunt. We get fed-up lounging about
barracks, and these affairs come as quite a God-send in the wilderness."

"By the way, where is Sir Richard?" Anstice had been scanning the
company, but could catch no glimpse of his friend. "His daughter, Mrs.
Cheniston, is here, you know, and she will be anxious----"

"Ah, yes--I have a message for her. Is she here--can you take me to
her?"

"She is here," said Anstice quietly, as Iris, hearing her name,
approached. "Mrs. Cheniston, this gentleman has a message for you--from
your father----"

"I'm Lane--Captain Lane, Mrs. Cheniston." He saluted her hastily. "And
your father asked me to tell you he was quite well, only a little tired
with his double journey. He