a coarse tragi-comedy. But he would never be that hero. He
would keep his word and stick to Margot. When he should come to the
desert telegraph station between Toudja and Touggourt, he would wire to
the Carlton, where she thought of returning, and explain as well as he
could that, not expecting her quite yet, he had stayed on in Africa, but
would see her as soon as possible.

"Better hurry up and get ready for dinner!" shouted Nevill, through a
crack of their bedroom door. "I warn you, I'm starving!"

By this time the Highlanders were out in the courtyard again--two
gigantic figures, grotesque and even fearful in the eyes of Arabs; but
there were no Arabs to stare at them now. All had gone about their
business in one direction or other.

Stephen said nothing to his friend about the enclosure in Lady
MacGregor's letter, mentioning merely the new game of cards named in
honour of Miss Ray, at which they both laughed. And it seemed rather
odd to Stephen just then, to hear himself laugh.

The quick-falling twilight had now given sudden coolness and peace to
the desert. The flies had ceased their persecutions. The whole air was
blue as the light seen through a pale star-sapphire, for the western sky
was veiled with a film of cloud floating up out of the sunset like the
smoke of its fire, and there was no glow of red.

As the two friends made themselves ready for dinner, and talked of such
adventures as each had just passed through, they heard the voice of the
landlord, impatiently calling, "Abdallah! Abdallah!"

There was no reply, and again he roared the name of his servant, from
the kitchen and from the courtyard, into which he rushed with a huge
ladle in his hand; then from farther off, outside the gate, which
remained wide open. Still there came no answer; and presently Stephen,
looking from his bedroom, saw the Frenchman, hot and red-faced, slowly
crossing the courtyard, mumbling to himself.

Nevill had not quite finished his toilet, for he had a kind of boyish
vanity, and wished to show how well and smart he could look after the
long, tiresome journey. But Stephen was ready, and he stepped out,
closing the door behind him.

"Can't you find your servant?" he asked the keeper of the bordj.

"No," said the man, adding some epithets singularly unflattering to the
absent one and his ancestors. "He has vanished as if his father, the
devil, had dragged him down to hell."

"Where are the others?" inquired Stephen. "