There it lay almost in sight of them, that little floating chip broken off from home, and every silent, ungainly step of the camels was carrying them more hopelessly away from it.

That very morning how beneficent Providence had appeared, how pleasant was life!--a little commonplace, perhaps, but so soothing and restful.

And now! The red head-gear, patched jibbehs, and yellow boots had already shown to the Colonel that these men were no wandering party of robbers, but a troop from the regular army of the Khalifa.

Now, as they struck across the desert, they showed that they possessed the rude discipline which their work demanded.

A mile ahead, and far out on either flank, rode their scouts, dipping and rising among the yellow sand-hills.