tell you
that the farther south we go the more of them we will find. There,
tribes and their sheiks are only waiting for the favorable moment to
seize the sword in defense of the true faith. These alone will supply
water, food, and camels, and lead astray the pursuit. In truth, we know
that it is far to the Mahdi, but we know also that every day brings us
nearer to the sheep's hide on which the holy prophet kneels to pray."

"Bismillah!" shouted his companions for the third tune.

It was apparent that Idris' importance grew among them considerably.
Stas understood that all was lost; so, desiring at least to protect
Nell from the malice of the Sudanese, he said:

"After six hours the little lady reached here barely alive. How can you
think that she can endure such a journey? If she should die, I also
will die, and then with what will you come to the Mahdi?"

Now Idris could not find an answer. Stas, perceiving this, continued
thus:

"And how will the Mahdi and Smain receive you when they learn that for
your folly Fatma and her children must pay with their lives?"

But the Sudanese had recovered himself and replied:

"I saw how you grasped Gebhr's throat. By Allah! you are a lion's whelp
and will not die and she--"

Here he gazed at the little head of the sleeping girl resting on the
knees of old Dinah and finished in a kind of strangely gentle voice:

"For her we will weave on the camel's hump a nest, as for a bird, that
she may not at all feel fatigue and that she may sleep on the road as
peacefully as she is sleeping now."

Saying this he walked towards the camels and with the Bedouins began to
make a seat for the little girl on the back of the best dromedary. At
this they chattered a great deal and quarrelled among themselves but
finally, with the aid of ropes, shaggy coverlets, and short bamboo
poles they made something in the shape of a deep, immovable basket in
which Nell could sit or lie down, but from which she could not fall.
Above this seat, so broad that Dinah also could be accommodated in it,
they stretched a linen awning.

"You see," said Idris to Stas, "quail's eggs could not crack in those
housings. The old woman will ride with the little lady to serve her day
and night.--You will sit with me, but can ride near her and watch over
her."

Stas was glad that he had secured even this much. Pondering over the
situation, he came to the conclusion that in all probability they would
be captured bef