"
But although he spoke hopefully, he turned his head again and again
towards the glare of light above Omdurman. He could no longer hear the
tapping of the drums, that was some consolation. But he was in a country
of silence, where men could journey swiftly and yet make no noise. There
would be no sound of galloping horses to warn him that pursuit was at
his heels. Even at that moment the Ansar soldiers might be riding within
thirty paces of them, and Feversham strained his eyes backwards into the
darkness and expected the glimmer of a white turban. Trench, however,
never turned his head. He rode with his teeth set, looking forwards. Yet
fear was no less strong in him than in Feversham. Indeed, it was
stronger, for he did not look back towards Omdurman because he did not
dare; and though his eyes were fixed directly in front of him, the
things which he really saw were the long narrow streets of the town
behind him, the dotted fires at the corners of the streets, and men
running hither and thither among the houses, making their quick search
for the two prisoners escaped from the House of Stone.
Once his attention was diverted by a word from Feversham, and he
answered without turning his head:--
"What is it?"
"I no longer see the fires of Omdurman.
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