They halted, and strained eyes and ears. They could see nothing, owing
to a few scattered hummocks in front, but they caught distinctly the
irregular thuds of distant rifle-firing. That was enough. Careless of
the rough going, or the condition of their camels at the close, they
raced ahead madly. There was no question now of the odds they might
have to face. Though the Hadendowas were well armed, and outnumbered
them by two to one, Royson felt that the presence of the Englishmen,
all of whom were ex-sailors of the Royal Navy, would nerve his Arab
helpers to attack and defeat Alfieri's band of cutthroats. Moreover,
von Kerber and his small escort were evidently making a fight of it,
and, while daylight lasted, the Hadendowas, once discovered, would
endeavor to shoot down their quarry at a safe range rather than undergo
the certain loss of an open assault.
How long could the unequal contest be maintained--that was the question
that tortured Dick. Many times during that wild ride he asked it, and
the only answer he received was given by despair.
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