Feversham thought not at all of the pine trees on the Surrey
hills, nor did Trench have any dread that something in his head would
snap and that which made him man be reft from him. They walked slowly,
as though their fetters had grown ten times their weight, and without a
word. So stricken, indeed, were they that an Arab turned and kept pace
beside them, and neither noticed his presence. In a few moments the Arab
spoke:--
"The camels are ready in the desert, ten miles to the west."
But he spoke in so low a voice, and those to whom he spoke were so
absorbed in misery, that the words passed unheard. He repeated them, and
Feversham looked up. Quite slowly their meaning broke in on Feversham's
mind; quite slowly he recognised the man who uttered them.
"Abou Fatma!" he said.
"Hoosh!" returned Abou Fatma, "the camels are ready."
"Now?"
"Now."
Trench leaned against the wall with his eyes closed, and the face of a
sick man. It seemed that he would swoon, and Feversham took him by the
arm.
"Is it true?" Trench asked faintly; and before Feversham could answer
Abou Fatma went on:--
"Walk forwards very slowly. Before you reach the end of the wall it will
be dusk.
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