had been
advanced, they would have recognized it as rendering the person of the
man who had performed it inviolable. However, as he was under the
protection of their leader's harem, there was nothing more to be said;
and at an order from Mahmud all but four of them rode off, while the
others fell in behind him.

Mahmud did not mount again, but walked with his wife to a deserted mud
hut, two hundred yards away. There he left her, telling Gregory and
Zaki to sit down outside, and placing the four men on guard.

"I must rejoin my men," he said, as he mounted. "When your vessels have
gone, I will return."

Half an hour later, the fire ceased. Soon afterwards Mahmud rode up
with a score of men, followed by some dozen women, and a slave leading
a donkey. On this Fatma took her seat, and the women surrounded her.
Gregory and Zaki walked close behind them. Mahmud, with his horsemen,
rode in front.

After proceeding for a mile, they came upon a group of tents. Mahmud's
banner was flying on a pole in front of the largest of these. Behind,
and touching it, was another almost as large. This was the abode of the
ladies of Mahmud's harem. The other tents were occupied by his
principal Emirs. A hundred yards away was the encampment of the army,
which was sheltered in hastily constructed huts, or arbours, made of
bushes.

By Mahmud's order, a small tent was erected, with blankets, close to
the after entrance into the harem tent, for Gregory's use; so that,
should he be attacked by fanatics, he could at once take refuge in the
harem, whose sanctity not even the most daring would dare to violate.

A handsome robe was brought for Zaki; and as Mahmud presented it to
him, he said:

"You are my friend, but you must now go back to your vessels, or to
Berber. My orders were to kill all the Jaalin, and we have spared none
who fell into our hands, at Metemmeh or since. I cannot keep you here.
As long as you stay by my side, you will be safe; but you could not
leave me for a moment. It is as much as I can do to save the life of
this infidel officer, and it is to him that I owe most, for it was he
who first leapt into the river.

"The white men's boats have already fastened up, behind the island
where they before stationed themselves. Make your way down there, at
daybreak, and wave a white cloth. Doubtless they will send a boat
ashore, thinking that you bear a message from me; or if you see they do
not do this, you can swim out to them.