Perhaps he will not
till morning. There are many prisoners."
They ran up the slope of sand, between the quarters of the tribes,
across the narrow width of the city, through the cemetery. On the far
side of the cemetery stood a disused house; a man rose up in the doorway
as they approached, and went in.
"Wait here," said Abou Fatma, and he too went into the house. In a
moment both men came back, and each one led a camel and made it kneel.
"Mount," said Abou Fatma. "Bring its head round and hold it as you
mount."
"I know the trick," said Trench.
Feversham climbed up behind him, the two Arabs mounted the second camel.
"Ten miles to the west," said Abou Fatma, and he struck the camel on the
flanks.
Behind them the glare of the lights dwindled, the tapping of the drums
diminished.
CHAPTER XXX
THE LAST OF THE SOUTHERN CROSS
The wind blew keen and cold from the north. The camels, freshened by it,
trotted out at their fastest pace.
"Quicker," said Trench, between his teeth. "Already Idris may have
missed us."
"Even if he has," replied Feversham, "it will take time to get men
together for a pursuit, and those men must fetch their camels, and
already it is dark.
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