On every side the velvet, blue-black sky, with its blazing stars, sloped downwards to the vast, dun-coloured plain.

The two were blurred into one at their point of junction.
The women had sat in the silence of despair, and the Colonel had been silent also--for what could he say ?--but suddenly all four started in their saddles, and Sadie gave a sharp cry of dismay.

In the hush of the night there had come from behind them the petulant crack of a rifle, then another, then several together, with a brisk rat-tat-tat, and then after an interval, one more.
"It may be the rescuers! It may be the Egyptians!" cried Mrs.Belmont, with a sudden flicker of hope.

"Colonel Cochrane, don't you think it may be the Egyptians ?" "Yes, yes," Sadie whimpered.

"It must be the Egyptians." The Colonel had listened expectantly, but all was silent again.