yet. These'll be held in readiness to cross to Basra in case the
Turks begin. While they wait for that at Kerachi the tribes won't
dare begin anything. One or two spies are sure to break North and
tell them what this force is for--but the tribes won't believe.
They'll wait until the force has moved to Basra before they take
chances. Good! That means no especial hurry for me!"

He did not have to return salutes, because he did not look for them.
Very few people noticed him at all, although he was recognized once
or twice by former messmates, and one officer stopped him with an
out-stretched hand.

"Shake hands, you old tramp! Where are you bound for next? Tibet
by any chance--or is it Samarkand this time?"

"Oh, hullo, Carmichel!" he answered, beaming instant good-fellowship.
"Where are you bound for?" And the other did not notice that his
own question had not been answered.

"Bombay! Bombay--Marseilles--Brussels--Berlin!"

"Wish you luck!" laughed King, passing on. Every living man there,
with the exception of a few staff-officers, believed himself en
route for Europe; their faces said as much. Yet King took another
look at the piles of stores and at the kits the men carried.

"Who'd take all that stuff to Europe, where they make it?" he
reflected. "And what 'u'd they use camel harness for in France?"

At his leisure--in his own way, that was devious and like a string