leaning against the great gate from which she had withdrawn the key.
But she uttered not a breath in answer, and after she had heard his
footsteps die away she turned slowly back and groped among the rose
roots for the key's hiding place.

Mechanically she smoothed it over and moved on towards the house.
All was quiet there. That sound had been no alarm. Unobserved she
slipped within the little door, and up the spiral steps.

She had not seen the dark eyes that were watching her, from the
other side of the rose thicket. After the girl had gained the house,
the old woman came forward and stooped before the marked bush,
muttering under her breath at the thorns. After a few moments she
gave a little grunt of satisfaction and her exploring hand drew out
the key.

Smoothing again the rifled hiding place among the roses, she made
her careful way into the house.




CHAPTER VI

A SECRET OF THE SANDS


The siesta was past. The sun was tilting towards the west and
shadows were beginning to jut out across the blazing sands.