All three broke into a run, stopping a moment at the hiding-place to retrieve the empty water skins, provisions, pistol, and ammunition. As luck would have it, four of the beasts were saddled, having been made ready to bear the sheikh and three of the principal members of his family on a short journey to a neighbouring tribe. The black slaves gasped with astonishment to see the three Kafirs running towards them, when they ought to have been in the fields. Still more were they astonished when they beheld Reeves unbuckle the girths of one of the animals and, with the saddle under his arm, climb into the saddle of another kneeling camel; and ere they could recover from their surprise, the three white men were urging their willing but unwieldy steeds towards the desert. The fugitives could rely upon half an hour's start--five miles at the outside--and as the distance between them and the encampment of Sheikh Wadherim increased, they saw with intense satisfaction that there were as yet no signs of pursuit. "Why are we going into the desert?" asked Hugh, after a while. "I thought you meant to follow the river?" "So I should have, had we not settled the hash of that shaven-headed rascal," replied Reeves. "No doubt the Arabs, in their desire to avenge the death of their _imam_, will brave the terrors of the jinn-infested country. That's somewhat unfortunate for us but it cannot be helped. I mean to strike into the desert till just before dawn, then bear away to the south-west and rejoin the stream." "We are without water," observed Gerald. "True! Had we gone deliberately to work we should have taken steps to procure a supply. That makes us dependent upon the river in any case. I wish there was a breeze to cover up our tracks," and the correspondent pointed to six distinct, furrow-like lines in the soft, yielding sand. On and on they rode, keeping their direction solely by the position of the now setting sun. At length the fiery orb dipped behind the almost level horizon, but still there was no sign of the expected pursuit. "Perhaps they are still afraid of the jinns," said Hugh. "Or it is quite likely that we are outstripping them," added Reeves. "We've taken the best hieries, and they are comparatively fresh. We've more than a fighting chance, lads." It was soon night. The stars shone forth with fiery brilliancy, while the air was sharp, though not so piercingly cold as on the low-lying deserts to the north. For several hours hardly a word was spoken, and only the soft footfalls of the camels broke the silence. "How shall we get rid of these beastly things?" asked Hugh at last, rattling his chain as he spoke. "We must be content to wear the bracelets," replied Reeves. "When it is daylight I mean to try a few shots with the pistol on them. The only thing is that ammunition is scarce."