* * * * *
At two o'clock, when the stars and a new moon were dimly lighting the
circle of hills, an Arab vedette reported the approach of a large
_kafila_ from the west. Soon the jingle of accouterments and the cries
of camels who scented the oasis heralded the arrival of the main body.
When Dick lifted a weary Irene from the saddle he made no pretense of
shyness, but kissed her quite heartily.
Yet Dick's tidings caused grave faces in the small circle round the
camp-fire. Mr. Fenshawe, as responsible leader of the expedition, felt
the weight of this added burthen of death. There was no gainsaying the
fact that he had been dragged into an unlawful enterprise. He was in
Italian territory against the will of the authorities. Though he and
those under his control were guiltless of actual wrong-doing, it was
exceedingly unfortunate that Alfieri had not lived to make a
deposition. The treasure-seekers must now depend on the testimony of
the wounded Hadendowas, four of whom had surrendered voluntarily, for
the one great principle which the East has learnt from the West is that
Europeans usually show humanity to a disabled foe.
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