ted to run for the doomed man. What he could do in the face of
scores of hostile blacks and Arabs he did not stop to consider. At the
same instant Tantor broke through the palisade and charged the group.
In the face of the maddened beast the crowd turned and fled, carrying
Baynes backward with them. In a moment it was all over, and the
elephant had disappeared with his prize; but pandemonium reigned
throughout the village. Men, women and children ran helter skelter for
safety. Curs fled, yelping. The horses and camels and donkeys,
terrorized by the trumpeting of the pachyderm, kicked and pulled at
their tethers. A dozen or more broke loose, and it was the galloping
of these past him that brought a sudden idea into Baynes' head. He
turned to search for Meriem only to find her at his elbow.

"The horses!" he cried. "If we can get a couple of them!"

Filled with the idea Meriem led him to the far end of the village.

"Loosen two of them," she said, "and lead them back into the shadows
behind those huts. I know where there are saddles. I will bring them
and the bridles," and before he could stop her she was gone.

Baynes quickly untied two of the restive animals and led them to the
point designated by Meriem. Here he waited impatiently for what seemed
an hour; but was, in reality, but a few minutes. Then he saw the girl
approaching beneath the burden of two saddles. Quickly they placed
these upon the horses. They could see by the light of the torture fire
that still burned that the blacks and Arabs were recovering from their
panic. Men were running about gathering in the loose stock, and two or
three were already leading their captives back to the end of the
village where Meriem and Baynes were busy with the trappings of their
mounts.

Now the girl flung herself into the saddle.

"Hurry!" she whispered. "We shall have to run for it. Ride through
the gap that Tantor made," and as she saw Baynes swing his leg over the
back of his horse, she shook the reins free over her mount's neck.
With a lunge, the nervous beast leaped forward. The shortest path led
straight through the center of the village, and this Meriem took.
Baynes was close behind her, their horses running at full speed.

So sudden and impetuous was their dash for escape that it carried them
half-way across the village before the surprised inhabitants were aware
of what was happening. Then an Arab recognized them, and, with a cry
of alarm,