"What if I propose a different quarry?"

"Propose and see!" Monty was on the alert, and therefore to all outward
appearance in a sort of well-fed, catlike, dallying mood.

"This dog," said Kagig, and he kicked the German's ribs again, "has
said nothing of any other person he must rescue. Bear me witness."

We murmured admission of the truth of that.

"Yet I am the Eye of Zeitoon, and I know. His purpose was to leave
his prisoners here and hurry on to overtake a lady--a certain Miss
Vanderman, who he thinks is on her way to the mission at Marash.
He desired the credit for her rescue in order better to blind the
world to his misdeeds! Nevertheless, now that she can be no more
use to him, observe his chivalry! He does not even mention her!"

The German shrugged his shoulders, implying that to argue with such
a savage was waste of breath.

"What do you know of Miss Vanderman's where-abouts?" demanded Will,
and Maga Jhaere, at the sound of another woman's name, sat bolt upright
between two other women whose bright eyes peeped out from under blankets.

"I had word of her an hour before you came, effendi," Kagig answered.
"She and her party took fright this afternoon, and have taken to
the hills. They are farther ahead than this pig dreamed"--once more
he kicked Von Quedlinburg--"more than a day's march ahead from here."

"Then we'll hunt for her first," said Monty, and the rest of us nodded