his right hand he still held the little electric
battery, and I knew at once that he had no limbs broken.

"Very successful mine," he said thickly. "Boer melinite shells aren't
in it with this new compound. Come on before the enemy recover from the
shock," and he flung himself upon his camel.

In another minute we had started at a trot toward the White Rock, whilst
from the city of Harmac behind us rose a wail of fear and misery. We
gained the top of the rise on which I had shot the horseman, and, as
I expected, found that the Fung had posted a strong guard in the dip
beyond, out of reach of our bullets, in order to cut us off, should
we attempt to escape. Now, terrified by what had happened, to them
a supernatural catastrophe, they were escaping themselves, for we
perceived them galloping off to the left and right as fast as their
horses would carry them.

So for awhile we went on unmolested, though not very quickly, because of
Orme's condition. When we had covered about half the distance between us
and the White Rock, I looked round and became aware that we were being
pursued by a body of cavalry about a hundred strong, which I supposed
had emerged from some other gate of the city.

"Flog the animals," I shouted to Quick, "or they will catch us after
all."

He did so, and we advanced at a shambling gallop, the horsemen gaining
on us every moment. Now I thought that all was over, especially when of
a sudden from behind the White Rock emerged a second squad of horsemen.

"Cut off!" I exclaimed.

"Suppose so, sir," answered Quick, "but these seem a different crowd."

I scanned them and saw that he was right. They were a very different
crowd, for in front of them floated the Abati banner, which I could not
mistake, having studied it when I was a guest of the tribe: a
curious, triangular, green flag covered with golden Hebrew characters,
surrounding the figure of Solomon seated on a throne. Moreover,
immediately behind the banner in the midst of a bodyguard rode a
delicately shaped woman clothed in pure white. It was the Child of Kings
herself!

Two more minutes and we were among them. I halted my camel and looked
round to see that the Fung cavalry were retreating. After the events
of that morning clearly they had no stomach left for a fight with a
superior force.

The lady in white rode up to us.

"Greetings, friend," she exclaimed to me, for she knew me again at once.
"Now, who is captain among you?"

I p