Belmont followed his gaze, and, yes-yes--there was something moving there! He saw the twinkle of metal, and the sudden gleam and flutter of some white garment.

A Dervish vedette upon the flank turned his camel twice round as a danger signal, and discharged his rifle in the air.

The echo of the crack had hardly died away before they were all in their saddles, Arabs and negroes.

Another instant, and the camels were on their feet and moving slowly towards the point of alarm.

Several armed men surrounded the prisoners, slipping cartridges into their Remingtons as a hint to them to remain still.
"By Heaven, they are men on camels!" cried Cochrane, his troubles all forgotten as he strained his eyes to catch sight of these new-comers.
"I do believe that it is our own people." In the confusion he had tugged his hands free from the halter which bound them.
"They've been smarter than I gave them credit for," said Belmont, his eyes shining from under his thick brows.