The chief keeps us at this infernal pace in order to close up with them." As they drew closer they could see plainly that it was indeed the other body of Arabs, and presently the Emir Wad Ibrahim came trotting back to take counsel with the Emir Abderrahman.

They pointed in the direction in which the vedettes had appeared, and shook their heads like men who have many and grave misgivings.

Then the raiders joined into one long, straggling line, and the whole body moved steadily on towards the Southern Cross, which was twinkling just over the skyline in front of them.

Hour after hour the dreadful trot continued, while the fainting ladies clung on convulsively, and Cochrane, worn out but indomitable, encouraged them to hold out, and peered backwards over the desert for the first glad signs of their pursuers.

The blood throbbed in his temples, and he cried that he heard the roll of drums coming out of the darkness.