face, framed thus by the dark red curtains,
his heart beat, as if her beauty were new to him, seen that instant for
the first time. This was the flood-tide of his life, now when they
travelled through the desert together, he and she, and she depended upon
his help and protection. For to-day, and the few more days until the
desert journey should come to an end at Biskra, the tide would be at
flood: then it would ebb, never to rise again, because at Algiers they
must part, she to go her way, he to go his; and his way would lead him
to Margot Lorenzi. After Algiers there would be no more happiness for
him, and he did not hope for it; but, right or wrong, he was living
passionately in every moment now.

Victoria smiled down from the high bassour at the dark, sunburnt face of
the rider. How different it was from the dark face of another rider who
had looked up at her, between her curtains, when she had passed that way
before! There was only one point of resemblance between the two: the
light of love in the eyes. Victoria could not help recognizing that
likeness. She could not help being sure that Stephen loved her, and the
thought made her feel safe, as well as happy. There had been a sense of
danger in the knowledge of Maieddine's love.

"The tower in the bordj is ruined," she said, looking across the waving
sea of dunes to a tall black object like the crooked finger of a giant
pointing up out of the gold into the blue. "It wasn't so when I passed
before."

"No," Stephen answered, welcoming any excuse for talk with her. "But it
was when we came from Touggourt. Sabine told me there'd been a
tremendous storm in the south just before we left Algiers, and the
heliograph tower at Toudja was struck by lightning. They'll build it up
again soon, for all these heliograph stations are supposed to be kept
in order, in case of any revolt; for the first thing a rebellious tribe
does is to cut the telegraph wires. If that happened, the only way of
communication would be by heliograph; and Sabine says that from
Touggourt to Tombouctou this chain of towers has been arranged always on
elevations, so that signals can be seen across great stretches of
desert; and inside the walls of a bordj whenever possible, for defence.
But the South is so contented and peaceful now, I don't suppose the
Government will get out of breath in its hurry to restore the damage
here."

At the sound of Sabine's name Saidee had instantly roused to attention,
a