not farther."

They crossed the rough country as quickly as they could, and then again
broke into a canter. An hour later, as they crossed a slight rise, Zaki
looked back.

"There are some horsemen in pursuit, my lord. They have evidently come
from Abu Klea."

Gregory looked round.

"There are about fifteen of them," he said. "However, they are a good
three miles behind, and it will be dark in another half hour. As soon
as it is so, we will turn off to the right or left, and so throw them
off our track. Don't hurry your horse. The animals have made a very
long journey, since we started, and we shall want them badly tomorrow."

In another half hour the sun went down. Darkness comes on quickly in
the Soudan, and in another quarter of an hour they had lost sight of
their pursuers, who had gained about a mile upon them.

"Another five minutes, Zaki, to allow for their eyes being better than
ours. Which way do you think we had better turn?"

"I should say to the left, my lord. There is another caravan route from
Metemmeh to Ambukol. It cannot be more than fifteen miles to the west."

"Do you know anything about it?"

"I have never been along there. It is a shorter route than the one to
Korti, but not so much used, I believe, because the wells cannot be
relied upon."

"Well, I feel sure we shall not be able to get at the wells on the
other line, so we had better take that. As we shall be fairly safe from
pursuit, we may as well bear towards the northwest. By doing so we
shall be longer in striking the track, but the journey will be a good
bit shorter than if we were to ride due west.

"Now we can safely dismount. It is getting pitch dark, and we will lead
our horses. I can feel that mine is nearly dead beat. In a few minutes
we will halt, and give them half a gourd full of water, each. After
that, we had better go on for another six or seven miles, so as to be
well out of sight of anyone on the hills."

Ten minutes later they heard the dull sound of horses' hoofs on the
sand. They waited five minutes, until it died away in the distance, and
then continued their course. It was slow work, as they had to avoid
every bush carefully; lest, if their pursuers halted, they should hear
the crackling of a dry stick in the still air. Zaki, who could see much
better in the dark than his master, went on ahead; while Gregory led
the two horses.

A good hour passed before they stopped. They gave the horses a scanty
drink, a