Before them was a cooking fire, which threw its red light over the group.

The Emir was standing with his back to it, and his fierce face towards the prisoners.

Behind the four men was a line of guards, and behind them again the three women, who looked down from their camels upon this tragedy.

With a malicious smile, the fat, one-eyed Moolah advanced with his fist closed, and the four little brown spicules protruding from between his fingers.
It was to Belmont that he held them first.

The Irishman gave an involuntary groan, and his wife gasped behind him, for the splinter came away in his hand.