We were together on H.M.S. _Orontes_, eastward bound, her father and I, but though we sat opposite one another at the Captain's table, we never spoke. Sometimes I caught him looking at me wistfully, and then I remembered that I had saved his life. But I wanted no thanks for it, and from him I would receive none. "Queer lot those Devereux," I heard one of my brother officers remark, unconscious of my presence. "Uncle and nephew, and don't speak! Must be something wrong, I should think." "Looks like it. If the Colonel hadn't written that tremendously clever book, I should think he was a bit cracked." "Might be further from the mark, I think. The young 'un isn't such a bad sort, only he's so confoundedly proud and close. Most unsociable fellow we ever had in the regiment!" "He's a bit of a prig, I must say, but I don't dislike him. Splendid family, you know, and rolling in money. By the bye," dropping his voice a little, "wasn't there something queer about one of 'em? This one's father, I believe?" "Hush! Yes, I'll tell you all about it presently;" and then they strolled up the deck and I heard no more. Something queer about one of them! I turned away with the old pain at my heart. Would the something queer ever be made right? Yes, and the time was not far distant. CHAPTER XLIII EXPIATION Whether it was the stifling desert air, or the anticipation of the morrow's battle, I cannot tell; but sleep for me was a thing impossible. We were encamped on the outskirts of a mighty plain, and within an hour's march the Mahdi lay entrenched awaiting our attack. Outside my tent all was bustle and stir in preparation for the morrow's fight, and a yellow moon was shining with a grim ghostly light upon our white tents, and the figures moving silently about. There were many other reasons why I should be restless. We were within a day's march--they could not be further away, and they might be nearer--of my father and Burton Leigh. Every day came tidings of the two white men on whose heads the Mahdi had set an enormous price, and who lived in deadly peril for fear of the treachery of their wavering friends, and to-morrow their fate would be decided, for if the tribe of the Asarees seceded to the false prophet and joined in the fight, then they were most surely doomed. But if, on the other hand, they held aloof from the fight, then would my father and Burton Leigh have succeeded in their daring mission, and would reach us in safety to be received as heroes. A shadow darkened my tent, and an orderly stood before me, saluting. "Colonel Devereux would like particularly to see you in his tent, sir." What could it mean! Neither word nor glance had passed between us since we left England on board the same ship. I followed the man with beating heart.