ut
intention, and in which she has become so versed, to the mystification
of those about her, who look upon woman as a bearer of children, a
plaything for sunny hours, useful in time of rain, endowed with the
brain of a pea-hen, and as much soul as the priests see fit to mete out
to her.

"Something had left me," Jill explained later. "My body seemed to be
sitting on the cushions, and I could minutely describe the way Hahmed
was sitting, and the exact shape of the shadow cast before him by the
moon, which was setting behind us. But inside I was quite empty,
whilst all sorts of little things I had known so long, crept out and
stole away into the desert. I was just a husk, with no more impatience
or quick temper or restlessness, and I can remember wondering if I were
likely to break in two or crumble into dust, I felt so thin. And then
I heard all sorts of whisperings, just as though thousands of people
were standing near me, trying to make me understand something, and a
violet shadow suddenly appeared between Hahmed and myself, seeming to
get deeper and deeper in colour, and then get less and less; and as it
lessened, so did my feeling of being a mere husk leave me, until at
last, when it had all gone, I felt--well _full_ is the only way to put
it, and my heart was thudding, and the blood pounding in my head, and
well--that's all!"

Very indefinite and very unsatisfactory, and of which the whispering
can easily be put down to the snuffling of the camels, the passing of
the faint breeze, or the intake of the Arab's breath; and the purple
shadows to the folds of his black cloak. For the effect of fatigue,
excitement, and strong Egyptian coffee upon the mind of a Western maid
is quite likely to turn the buzzing of a fly into the flight of an
aeroplane, or the dripping of a tap into the roar of a Niagara.

Be that as it may, the Arab made no sound or movement when with a low
cry the girl sprung suddenly to her feet, and with both hands upraised,
although she knew it not, turned towards the direction in which Mecca
lay.

For a full minute she stood absolutely motionless, then gently moving
towards the man, who had risen and was standing behind her, she put out
her hand, saying softly, "Behold! I am ready to come with thee."

CHAPTER XVI

It was close upon dawn when the two figures suddenly and silently
emerged from the tree shadows in which they had been hiding for some
considerable time.

Very simple an