"D'ye know, I believe you are not far wrong," said Simkin, gravely; "and it _is_ encouraging to know that Temptation's out o' the way, for I feel that the other devil has got me by the throat even now, and that it's him as has weakened me so much." "That's it, friend. You've got the truth by the tail now, so hold on; but, at the same time, don't be too hard on Craving. It's not _his_ fault that he's here. You have poured liquor down your throat to him daily, and cultivated his acquaintance, and helped him to increase his strength regularly, for many months--it may be for years. I don't want to be hard on you, lad, but it's of no use shiftin' the burden on to the wrong shoulders. It is not Craving but _you_ who are the sinner. Now, as to advice: do you really want it?" "Well," replied Simkin, with a "humph!" "it will be time enough for you to shut up when I sound the `cease firing!'" "My advice, then, is that you go down on your knees, plead _guilty_ straight off, and ask for grace to help you in your time of need." "What! go down on my knees here before all them Arabs? If I did, they'd not only laugh at me, but they'd soon rouse me up with their spears." "I'm not so sure about that, Simkin. Arabs are accustomed to go on their own knees a good deal in public. It is chiefly Christians who, strange to say, are ashamed to be caught in that position at odd times. But I speak not of ceremonies, but of realities. A man may go on his knees, without bending a joint, any time and everywhere. Now, listen: there is this difference between the courts of men and the court of heaven, that in the former, when a man pleads guilty, his sentence is only modified and softened, but in the latter, the man who pleads guilty receives a free pardon and ultimate deliverance from _all_ sin for the sake of Jesus Christ. Will you accept this deliverance, my friend?" What the soldier replied in his heart we cannot tell, for his voice was silent. Before the conversation could be resumed a halt was called, to partake of the midday meal and rest. That evening the party came upon a strange and animated scene. It was one of the mountain camps of Osman Digna, where men were assembling from all quarters, to swell the hordes with which their chief hoped to drive the hated Europeans into the Red Sea. Camels and other beasts of burden were bringing in supplies for the vast army, and to this spot had been brought the poor fellows who had been wounded in recent battles. Here the captives were thrust into a small dark hut and left to their meditations, while a couple of Arab sentries guarded the door. CHAPTER TWENTY THREE. SHOWS THAT SUFFERING TENDS TO DRAW OUT SYMPATHY.