bottom
when it was empty, and floating to the surface when full, but prevented
from tumbling out by the edges of the top of the tin being bent in a
bit. This prevented most of the spilling, and every excursion Hump made
he brought back the best part of a pint. And a pint of water, look you,
was worth a good deal more than a pint of champagne in England.

Two more days passed; the Arabs burst out now and then into a spurt of
volley firing, but would not attempt another attack. They probably knew
the nature of the wells, and trusted to thirst to fight for them.

The little party in the zereba kept a sharp look-out for rescue, you may
depend, for their position was growing more and more critical every
hour. To the south was the spring, with a few trees, and the thick
mimosa bush beyond. On the east were more mimosas and rocky ground in
which the enemy could find cover to within five hundred yards at the
furthest part; up to two hundred at one point. But on the northern and
western sides the country was quite open, and the view was only bounded
by sand-hills a good mile off. And it was from one of these directions
that they expected help would come.

So when dust was noticed, amidst which an occasional glitter flashed, on
the western horizon, eyes began to sparkle and hearts to beat high, as
those of shipwrecked men in an open boat when a sail comes in sight. No
doubt it was a party sent to relieve them--cavalry, by the pace they
came, for the cloud of dust rolled rapidly nearer. In five minutes it
was within a thousand yards, and then out of it burst a single horseman,
riding straight for the zereba, and the enemy, running from their cover
on the southern side, strove to intercept him with their fire as he
passed, while presently some twenty Arab horsemen became visible, racing
after the fugitive, the foremost about twenty yards from his heels.
_Bang_! _bang_! _bang_! From the Arabs, who had run out, and were
somewhat too far for the zereba fire. But the hunted man came on
untouched.

It is not easy, even for good shots, to hit flying with ball, and the
Arabs were not good shots, but the exact reverse. Nearer now, with his
horse well in hand, not seeking to increase his distance, glancing back
to judge how far off his pursuers were. The footmen of the enemy,
provoked at not being able to stop him, ran out in his course too close
to the English, and two of them were presently down on the sand. Others
not h