ere shamming, and not
ill at all. My back, indeed! Well, yes. Come along. I suppose it was
beginning to ache."

CHAPTER SIXTEEN.

THE STARTING-POINT.

Mr Burne showed no more distrust, though Yussuf was striding away
faster and faster, at a rate that Lawrence's strength forbade him to
attempt to emulate; but the reason soon became evident. He was making
for an elevation about a mile away, and upon reaching it he toiled up to
the top, and as soon as he had done so he turned and took off his fez
and began to wave it in the air.

"He has found out something," said the professor.

"If it is a hotel where we can get a good breakfast he shall have my
advice for nothing any time he likes to come and ask it," said Mr
Burne, rubbing his hands.

"In London?" said the professor.

"Anywhere, sir. There, that will do. Don't swing your arms about like
that," he continued, addressing the guide, who was of course far out of
hearing. "Anyone would think that because he was right on the top of a
hill he had caught the wind-mill complaint."

The three travellers were almost as much excited as Yussuf, and hurried
on, Lawrence forgetting his weakness in the interest of the moment, so
that it was not long before they reached the top--hot, breathless, and
panting with exertion.

Their guide pointed to what appeared to be a group of huts a long way
off.

"Is that all?" grumbled the old lawyer. "I thought you had found a
place where we could have a comfortable meal."

"There will be bread, and fruit, and a boat, excellency," said Yussuf
quietly; "and these are what you want, are they not?"

"I suppose so," replied Mr Burne, gazing forward at what now appeared
to be a cluster of small houses by the sea-shore, backed by a dense
grove of trees, while in front, and about a quarter of a mile from the
sands, lay three small boats. "It is not a desert place then," he
grumbled, as they all went on together. "How far is it to that cluster
of hovels?"

"About two miles, excellency."

"About two miles, and before breakfast," muttered the old fellow sourly;
but he drew a long breath as if he were trying to master his
disinclination, and then turning to Lawrence with a grim smile he cried,
"Now, look here, cripple against invalid, I'll race you; fair walking,
and Mr Preston to be umpire. One--two--three--off."

It was a fair walk of about an hour before they entered the cluster of
huts, each surrounded by a good-sized fr