out on the many days' journey which, to her astonishment, she had
learned stretched between Ismailiah and the oasis.

She scrutinised the man before her--this Arab with the impassive face,
the camels at his feet, her life in his hands if she went with him.

His what? Wife! to settle down for ever and ever and ever.

His plaything? This was not the man to play or be played with, for had
he not said:

"If you come with me, fear not that you will be a prisoner. The oasis,
the house, my servants, houses, camels, all will be yours, and there
will be nothing to prevent your leaving it all--nothing except the
desert, the miles of pitiless sand, trackless, pathless, strewn with
the white bones of those who have essayed to escape from Fate, the
never-changing, ever-different ocean which beats about my dwelling."

Then once again she looked into the dark eyes which were reading every
passing emotion on the mobile face, and putting out her hands made one
step towards the camel, whilst the soul of the desert laughed with her
scarlet mouth.




CHAPTER XIII

A sharp word of command and the pack-camel rose, moved a few paces on
its noiseless feet, swaying from side to side as though to readjust its