y ravine, which was perfectly black by the
time they had found a likely place for their bivouac, where the horses
would be safe as well, and this done, one of the packs was taken down
from its bearer and a hearty meal made by all, Yussuf eating as he kept
guard with Lawrence's gun, while Hamed was well enough to play his part
feebly, as the horses rejoiced in a good feed of barley apiece.

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO.

THE USE OF A STRAW HAT.

"There," said Mr Burne, as he lit a cigar, and sat with his back to a
stone; "if anybody in Fleet Street, or at my club, had told me I could
have such an adventure as this, I should have said--" Here he paused.

"What, Mr Burne?" asked Lawrence after a time.

"Tarradiddle!" replied the old gentleman shortly, and he took out his
handkerchief to blow his nose, but promptly suppressed the act, and
said:

"No; wait till we get somewhere that is likely to be safe."

That word "safe" occurred to everybody in the silence of that dark and
solemn gorge, whose sombre aspect was enough to daunt the most
courageous; but somehow that night, in spite of the riskiness of their
position, no one felt much alarmed.

There were several things which combined to make them feel cheerful.
One was the company, for the knowledge of being there with a trusty
companion on either side was encouraging.

Then there was the calm confidence given by the knowledge that their
enemies had run from them like a flock of sheep before a dog.

Lastly, there were the satisfactory sensations produced by the recovery
of their horses and belongings, and consequent enjoyment of a good meal.

Taken altogether, then, after proper arrangements had been made to
secure the horses, and for a watch being kept, no scruple was felt about
lying down to sleep, everyone with his weapons ready for use in case of
an attack, which after all was not greatly feared.

Lawrence wanted to take his turn at keeping guard, but the professor
forbade it.

"No," he said; "you have done your day's work. Sleep and grow strong.
You will help us best by getting vigorous;" and hence it was that the
lad lay down in the solemn stillness of the vast place, gazing up at the
stars, which seemed dazzlingly bright in the dark sky, and then it
seemed to him that he closed his eyes for a moment, and opened them
again to see the mountain slopes bathed in sunshine, while the birds
were twittering and piping, and the black desolate gorge of the previous
n