rth,
south, east, and west, there was hiding-place for an army.

As he came down from the last of the four towers, his friend sauntered
out from his bedroom. "I hope the missing Abdallah's turned up, and
dinner's ready," said Nevill gaily.

Then Stephen told him what had happened, and Nevill's cheerful face
settled into gravity.

"Looks as if they'd got a tip from the marabout's men," he said slowly.

"It can be nothing else," Stephen agreed.

"I blame myself for calling the twins inside to help me," said Nevill.
"If I'd left them to moon about the courtyard, they'd have seen those
sneaks creeping away, and reported."

"They wouldn't have thought it strange that the Arabs stood outside,
watching the boy go. You're not to blame, because you didn't see the sly
look in my fellows' faces. I had the sign, and neglected it, in spite of
my resolutions. But after all, if we're in for trouble, I don't know
that it isn't as well those cowards have taken French leave. If they'd
stayed, we'd only have had an enemy inside the gates, as well as out.
And that reminds me, we must have the gates shut at once. Thank heaven
we brought those French army rifles and plenty of cartridges from
Algiers, when we didn't know what we might be in for. Now we _do_ know;
and all are likely to come handy. Also our revolvers."

"Thank heaven and my aunt for the twins, too," said Nevill. "They might
be better servants, but I'll bet on them as fighters. And perhaps you
noticed the rifles her 'leddyship' provided them with at Touggourt?"

"I saw the muzzles glitter as they rode along on camel-back," Stephen
answered. "I was glad even then, but now----" He did not need to finish
the sentence. "We'd better have a word with our host," he said.

To reach the dining-room, where the landlord was busy, furiously
clattering dishes, they had to pass the door of the room occupied by the
sisters. It was half open, and as they went by, Victoria came out.

"Please tell me things," she said. "I'm sure you're anxious. When we
heard the landlord call his servant and nobody answered, Saidee was
afraid there was something wrong. You know, from the first she thought
that her--that Cassim didn't mean to keep his word. Have the Arabs all
gone?"

Nevill was silent, to let Stephen take the responsibility. He was not
sure whether or no his friend meant to try and hide their anxiety from
the women. But Stephen answered frankly. "Yes, they've gone. It may be
that noth