you propose to drag me from here if I do
not choose to go?" p. 181]

"Oh," replied George in the same language, "and what does he want
with me? Who is this officer? Why can't he come to me?" he went
on in defiant tones.

"You are prisoner, and the officer he not come to prisoners. You are
to die soon," was the comforting reply.

"Yes, and who is going to kill me? You?" with fine contempt in his
tones, eyeing the insignificant wretch up and down.

"I come not here to talk with the dog of a Christian. If you will
not come with me, I must take you, for the Pasha will not wait.
Come!"

Helmar burst out into a loud laugh. The thought of this dirty little
Egyptian taking him anywhere against his will was too much for him;
notwithstanding the exigencies of the situation he resolved to tease
him.

"And how do you propose to drag me from here if I do not choose to
go?"

The little man's eyes glittered, and his hand rested on a revolver
in his belt. He saw that the "dog of a Christian" was laughing at
him, and he did not like it.

"My orders are to bring you; if you will not come alive, then----"
and he drew his revolver and levelled it at George's head.

Thinking he had gone far enough, and realizing that the wretch was
in earnest, George stopped laughing.

"All right, lead the way, I'll go with you. But you might give me
something to eat; I haven't touched food since yesterday afternoon
and am hungry."

"You not need food much longer," replied the man with a grim smile,
as he led the way out into the scorching sunlight.

"Evidently," thought George, "they don't intend to waste time with
me. But, by Jupiter! I'll make a fight for it when the time comes!"

The place he was in was a small encampment of mud huts scattered
about amongst a scrubbly low bush. A number of rebel soldiers were
to be seen in various attitudes of laziness, all smoking or chewing.
As George passed along with his guide they eyed him with much
disfavour, without moving from their particular position of ease,
and if looks could kill, he would never have reached the officer's
hut alive.

"What place is this?" he asked, more interested in his surroundings
than in his fate. "Is it Kafr Dowar?"

The man shook his head and refused to answer. Not yet satisfied,
George tried again.

"How far is this from Alexandria?"

This time the answer came short, sharp, and in deep tones of hatred.

"Too far for the Christian ever to return."

"How the