ies of provisions, and seek flat stones
on which to build a fire. There was no wood or dried dung, which Arabs
use, but Chamis, son of Chadigi, plucked roses of Jericho and built of
them a big pile to which he set fire. For some time, while the Sudanese
were engaged with the camels, Stas and Nell and her nurse, old Dinah,
found themselves together, somewhat apart. But Dinah was more
frightened than the children and could not say a word. She only wrapped
Nell in a warm plaid and sitting close to her began with a moan to kiss
her little hands. Stas at once asked Chamis the meaning of what had
happened, but he, laughing, only displayed his white teeth, and went to
gather more roses of Jericho. Idris, questioned afterwards, answered
with these words: "You will see!" and threatened him with his finger.
When the fire of roses, which smoldered more than blazed, finally
glowed they all surrounded it in a circle, except Gebhr who remained
with the camels, and they began to eat cakes of maize, and dried mutton
and goats' meat. The children, famished by the long journey, also ate,
though at the same time Nell's eyes were closed by sleepiness. But in
the meantime, in the faint light of the fire, appeared dark-skinned
Gebhr and with glittering eyes he held up two bright little gloves and
asked:

"Whose are these?"

"Mine," answered Nell with a sleepy and tired voice.

"Yours, little viper?" the Sudanese hissed through set teeth. "Then you
mark the road so that your father can know where to pursue us."

Saying this, he struck her with a courbash, a terrible Arabian whip,
which cuts even the hide of a camel. Nell, though she was wrapped in a
thick plaid, shrieked from pain and fright, but Gebhr was unable to
strike her a second time, for at that moment Stas leaped like a
wildcat, butted Gebhr's breast with his head, and afterwards clutched
him by the throat.

It happened so unexpectedly that the Sudanese fell upon his back and
Stas on top of him, and both began to roll on the ground. The boy was
exceptionally strong for his age, nevertheless Gebhr soon overcame him.
He first pulled his hands from his throat, after which he turned him
over with face to the ground and, pressing heavily on his neck with his
fist, he began to lash his back with the courbash.

The shrieks and tears of Nell, who seizing the hand of the savage at
the same time begged him "to forgive" Stas, would not have availed if
Idris had not unexpectedly come to t