He rode on, munching contentedly at a biscuit from his haversack, until
his glance was drawn to a cloud of dust hanging in the air, for the
unpleasant wind of the previous night had given way to a softer and
cooler breeze. He read its token correctly, and smiled at the picture
which his fancy drew of Stump, when that choleric skipper heard what
had happened to his second mate. Surely he would be among those now
hurrying to the rescue!
And he was not mistaken. With Stump came Abdur Kad'r, six of the
_Aphrodite's_ crew, and a score of well-armed Arabs and negroes. Even
before they met, Royson saw two Arabs race back towards the camp, and
Stump, after the first hearty congratulations, explained the hurry of
those messengers.
"It's mainly on account of Miss Irene," he said. "She took on something
awful when the sheikh blew in an' tole us you had gone under. He heard
the shootin', you see, an', accordin' to his account, you were as full
of lead as Tagg'll be full of beer when he listens to the yarn I'll
spin nex' time we meet.
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