you will not think of yourself,
think of those in England who love you."

"You may be sure I shall do that," Max replied. Then, uttering another
hearty good-bye, and shaking Bertram once more by the hand, he set off
in pursuit of his partner.

As they turned the corner of the canon, he looked back and waved his
hand. Bertram was standing where he had left him, still looking after
him.

CHAPTER XVI.

The first day's march, after they left the main camp, could not be said
to have been, in any sense of the word, either a pleasant or a
comfortable one. Both the men were ill at ease, not only with their
present lot, but also with each other. Moreas entertained the unpleasant
suspicion that Max, while he never failed in his duty, was, in reality,
more in sympathy with Bertram than with himself. The anxiety of what was
before them lay heavily upon their minds, while there was a nameless,
indescribable something that Max could not understand, and yet which
stood like a shadow between them. It soon became apparent to him that
the dangers to which they were to be subjected had not been in the least
exaggerated. For no less than four days they continued on through the
mountains, and it was only after incredible hardships that they managed
to reach the plains on the other side. Here, however, as it turned out,
they were in scarcely a better plight. As they expected, on leaving the
mountains they found themselves confronted by a stretch of desert. To
attempt to cross it seemed to be to run too great a risk, and yet to
turn back, when they were so near the end, seemed an equally foolish
undertaking. With a dogged determination, worthy of a better cause, and
with which Max had never credited him, Moreas decided in favour of
pushing on. It was a rash decision, for with every hour the condition of
the mules was becoming more and more pitiable, while the men themselves
were in scarcely a better case. Still Moreas remained in a state of
sullenness. When the animals were no longer able to bear their weights,
he got off and walked sulkily beside his own beast, grudged them the
delay when they rested, and after they had prepared their camp at night,
went so far as to insinuate that Max had been keeping the mules back to
serve his own purpose. It was indeed a dreary resting-place they had
that night. There was no shelter; no water, save that they had brought
with them; no food to revive their starving animals, save a few
mouthfu