served in the Egyptian Artillery under Bimbashi Mortimer. He was taken
prisoner when Hicks Pasha was destroyed, and had to turn Dervish to save
his skin. How's that?"

The Colonel said a few words of Arabic and received a reply, but two of
the Arabs closed up, and the negro quickened his pace and left them.

"You are quite right," said the Colonel. "The fellow is friendly to us,
and would rather fight for the Khedive than for the Khalifa. I don't
know that he can do us any good, but I've been in worse holes than this,
and come out right side up. After all, we are not out of reach of
pursuit, and won't be for another forty-eight hours."

Belmont calculated the matter out in his slow, deliberate fashion.

"It was about twelve that we were on the rock," said he. "They would
become alarmed aboard the steamer if we did not appear at two."

"Yes," the Colonel interrupted, "that was to be our lunch hour.
I remember saying that when I came back I would have--O Lord, it's best
not to think of it!"

"The reis was a sleepy old crock," Belmont continued, "but I have
absolute confidence in the promptness and decision of my wife.
She would insist upon an immediate alarm being given. Suppose they
started back at two-thirty, they should be at Halfa by three, since the
journey is down stream. How long did they say that it took to turn out
the Camel Corps?"

"Give them an hour."