He left the camp two hours ago."
"Did he speak to any of our men?"
"He may have done so. I'm not sure. We were so taken up with Alfieri's
communication that we gave no heed to the Arab. But grandad said, by
the way, that it was just as well he should see our strength, and that
we had a dozen armed sailors here, in addition to so many natives. You
are worrying about me, I suppose? Allow me to observe that I, as staff
officer, have assisted the commander-in-chief to divide our forces into
two strong guards for the night. Grandfather commands one, Captain
Stump the other, while you, O King, have to sleep soundly until the
dawn."
"But I have just slept eight hours!"
"Oh, well, being on the staff, I also arranged that we should mount
guard together until eleven o'clock."
It went against the grain to dash her high spirits with the doubt that
had seized him as soon as he heard of the Hadendowa Arab's departure.
In all probability, the man had found out that von Kerber and Mrs.
Haxton were no longer in the camp.
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