are either exterminated, or have been driven out of their country,
far to the south. The men of Achmet Zek occupy the plain about
your former home--there is neither sanctuary nor escape in that
direction. Our only hope lies in traveling northward as rapidly as
we may, of coming to the camp of the raiders before the knowledge
of Achmet Zek's death reaches those who were left there, and of
obtaining, through some ruse, an escort toward the north.

"I think that the thing can be accomplished, for I was a guest of
the raider's before I knew the nature of the man, and those at the
camp are not aware that I turned against him when I discovered his
villainy.

"Come! We will make all possible haste to reach the camp before
those who accompanied Achmet Zek upon his last raid have found
his body and carried the news of his death to the cut-throats who
remained behind. It is our only hope, Lady Greystoke, and you
must place your entire faith in me if I am to succeed. Wait for
me here a moment while I take from the Arab's body the wallet that
he stole from me," and Werper stepped quickly to the dead man's
side, and, kneeling, sought with quick fingers the pouch of jewels.
To his consternation, there was no sign of them in the garments
of Achmet Zek. Rising, he walked back along the trail, searching
for some trace of the missing pouch or its contents; but he found
nothing, even though he searched carefully the vicinity of his
dead horse, and for a few paces into the jungle on either side.
Puzzled, disappointed and angry, he at last returned to the girl.
"The wallet is gone," he explained, crisply, "and I dare not delay
longer in search of it. We must reach the camp before the returning
raiders."