life, and not even the presence of so lovely a companion
could entirely recompense me for the loss of my dearest friend.

The lights on the Egyptian shore were faintly visible when the last
group of stragglers on deck broke up. I had long since prevailed upon
Karamaneh to retire, and now, utterly sick at heart, I sought my own
stateroom, mechanically undressed, and turned in.

It may, or may not be singular that I had neglected all precautions
since the night of the tragedy; I was not even conscious of a desire to
visit retribution upon our hidden enemy; in some strange fashion I took
it for granted that there would be no further attempts upon Karamaneh,
Aziz, or myself. I had not troubled to confirm Smith's surmise
respecting the closing of the portholes; but I know now for a fact that,
whereas they had been closed from the time of our leaving the Straits
of Messina, to-night, in sight of the Egyptian coast, the regulation was
relaxed again. I cannot say if this is usual, but that it occurred on
this ship is a fact to which I can testify--a fact to which my attention
was to be drawn dramatically.

The night was steamingly hot, and because I welcomed the circumstance
that my own port was widely opened, I reflected that those on the lower
decks might be open also. A faint sense of danger stirred within me;
indeed, I sat upright and was about to spring out of my berth when that
occurred which induced me to change my mind.

All passengers had long since retired, and a midnight silence descended
upon the ship, for we were not yet close enough to port for any unusual
activities to have commenced.

Clearly outlined in the open porthole there suddenly arose that same
grotesque silhouette which I had seen once before.

Prompted by I know not what, I lay still and simulated heavy breathing;
for it was evident to me that I must be partly visible to the watcher,
so bright was the night. For ten--twenty--thirty seconds he studied me
in absolute silence, that gaunt thing so like a mummy; and, with my
eyes partly closed, I watched him, breathing heavily all the time. Then,
making no more noise than a cat, he moved away across the deck, and
I could judge of his height by the fact that his small, swathed head
remained visible almost to the time that he passed to the end of the
white boat which swung opposite my stateroom.

In a moment I slipped quietly to the floor, crossed, and peered out
of the porthole; so that at last I had