"In another ten minutes they will know we have fled, and
they will hurry south at top speed. What chance have we of passing them
in this country at night? Our sole hope is to head them. No more words,
but ride. Believe me, Abdur Kad'r, it is life or death for you, and it
matters little to me whether you die here, or in the next valley, or
not at all."
Then the Arab knew that he had met his master. He climbed to the
saddle, said words not in the Koran, and urged his camel into a
frenzied run. Royson, who could never have persuaded his own long-
legged steed to adopt such a pace, found it easy enough to induce the
beast to follow his brother.
In this fashion, riding like madmen, they traversed the plateau and had
almost begun the descent into the wady where they had spent the day,
when a distant yell reached them. There was no need to look back, even
if such a hazardous proceeding were warranted by their break-neck gait.
They were discovered, but they were in front, and that counts for a
good deal in a race.
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