“But I don't believe it is so,” cried the brave Irishwoman. “No, I'll never believe it until I see John's body lying before me. And when I see that, I don't want to live to see anything more.” The last Dervish had clattered down the khor, and now above them on either cliff they could see the Egyptians--tall, thin, square-shouldered figures, looking, when outlined against the blue sky, wonderfully like the warriors in the ancient bas-reliefs. Their camels were in the background, and they were hurrying to join them. At the same time others began to ride down from the farther end of the ravine, their dark faces flushed and their eyes shining with the excitement of victory and pursuit. A very small Englishman, with a straw-coloured moustache and a weary manner, was riding at the head of them. He halted his camel beside the fugitives and saluted the ladies. He wore brown boots and brown belts with steel buckles, which looked trim and workmanlike against his kharki uniform. “Had 'em that time--had 'em proper!” said he. “Very glad to have been of any assistance, I'm Shaw. Hope you're none the worse for it all. What I mean, it's rather rough work for ladies.” “You're from Haifa, I suppose?” asked the Colonel. “No, we're from the other show. We're the Sarras crowd, you know. We met in the desert, and we headed 'em off, and the other Johnnies headed them behind. We've got 'em on toast, I tell you. Get up on that rock and you'll see things happen. It's going to be a knockout in one round this time.” “We left some of our people at the wells. We are very uneasy about them,” said the Colonel. “I suppose you have not heard anything of them?” The young officer looked serious and shook his head. “Bad job that!” said he. “They're a poisonous crowd when you put 'em in a corner. What I mean, we never expected to see you alive; and we're very glad to pull any of you out of the fire. The most we hoped was that we might revenge you.” “Any other Englishman with you?” “Archer is with the flanking party. He'll have to come past, for I don't think there is any other way down. We've got one of your chaps up there--a funny old bird with a red topknot. See you later, I hope! Good day, ladies!” He touched his helmet, tapped his camel, and trotted on after his men. “We can't do better than stay where we are until they are all past,” said the Colonel, for it was evident now that the men from above would have to come round. In a broken single file they went past, black men and brown, Soudanese and fellaheen, but all of the best, for the Camel Corps is the _corps d'elite_ of the Egyptian army. Each had a brown bandolier over his chest and his rifle held across his thigh. A large man with a drooping black moustache and a pair of binoculars in his hand was riding at the side of them. “Hulloa, Archer!” croaked the Colonel. The officer looked at him with the vacant, unresponsive eye of a complete stranger. “I'm Cochrane, you know! We travelled up together.”