de in the
direction of the Nile. Nell, supporting her head on old Dinah's knee,
fell asleep. The fire was dying out and soon could be heard only the
grinding of the durra in the camels' teeth. On high rolled small clouds
which at times veiled the moon, but the night was clear. Beyond the
rocks resounded the mournful whining of jackals.

After two hours the Bedouins returned with the camels bearing leather
bags filled with water. Having fed the fire, they sat on the sand and
commenced to eat. Their arrival awoke Stas, who previously had been
dozing, as well as Chamis, son of Chadigi, and the two Sudanese. Then
at the camp-fire began the following conversation:

"Can we start?" Idris asked.

"No, because we must rest;--we and our camels."

"Did any one see you?"

"Nobody. We reached the river between two villages. In the distance
dogs barked."

"It will be necessary always to go for water at midnight and draw it at
deserted places. Only let us get past the first 'challa' (cataract);
beyond that the villages are farther apart and they are more friendly
to the prophet. A pursuing party will undoubtedly follow us."

At this Chamis turned over, with his back up, and resting his face on
his hands said:

"The Mehendes will first wait for the children in El-Fachn during the
whole night and until the following train; later they will go to Fayum
and from there to Gharak. Only there will they understand what has
happened and then they will have to return to Medinet to send words
flying over the copper wire to cities on the Nile and to the
camel-corps which will pursue us. All that will take at least three
days. Therefore we do not need to tire our camels and can peacefully
'drink smoke' from pipe-stems."

Saying this, he pulled out a sprig of a rose of Jericho and lit his
pipe with it, while Idris began, according to the Arabian habit, to
smack his lips with satisfaction.

"You arranged it well, son of Chadigi," he said, "but it is necessary
for us to take advantage of the time and to drive during those three
days and nights as far as possible southward. I shall breathe freely
only when we shall cross the desert between the Nile and Kharga (a
great oasis west of the Nile). God grant that the camels hold out."

"They will hold out," declared one of the Bedouins.

"People also say," interposed Chamis, "that the army of the Mahdi--may
God prolong his life--has already reached Assuan."

Here Stas, who did not lose a wo