"Eh?" asked that young officer rather breathlessly a few moments later. "Thought I saw something," said Geoff. "So did I. I thought I saw somebody or something half an hour ago. I've thought it every moment since we left the steam-launch. Bogies, Geoff?" "Not nerves, I hope!" came the cheerful answer. "But it's rather uncanny work, ain't it? I could have sworn just now that a fellow stood on the edge of an island into which we were running, and I snapped my fingers; but the way of the boat carried us right on to the very point where he was standing, and right over it. He had gone though." "Like a nasty nightmare!" said Phil. "Let's go ahead; it's cold and chilly here, and takes the courage out of a fellow." It was perhaps an hour later, when they had slowly crept forward towards the Turkish position, and when they had caught sight of a glow in the distance--the glow of camp-fires--over the position occupied by the enemy, that the bellum suddenly came to an abrupt halt, grinding noisily upon the edge of the desert. "Hard ground," said Geoff. "Looks as though we'd come to the edge of the marsh land, and--and--I've thought it for some while, the sky over there shows the reflection from camp-fires. We're near them, Phil." "Then let's get nearer. But how are we to find this bellum again, supposing we leave it?" That set them cogitating for a few moments while they stepped ashore, followed by Esbul, and, lifting the bellum clear of the water, carried her into a bank of reeds which could be heard rustling beside them. "How to find her, that's it!" said Geoff, while the respectful Esbul listened. "My master," he said of a sudden, for thanks to Major Douglas's tuition the man could speak English tolerably well. "My master, perhaps were we to return from the Turkish camp before the dawn breaks these reeds would aid us. There may be other banks; but, on the other hand, there may be no more, and thus we should be aided." "In any case we've got to chance it," said Geoff lightly. "Now, come along, and let's make direct for the glow of those camp-fires." Stealing away from the place where they had hidden their boat, the three crept cautiously but swiftly towards the enemy's position, and, ascending slowly as they went, soon gained a ridge, from which they were able to look right down into the camp where the Turkish soldiers were concentrated. Lying flat on their faces, they were busily engaged in taking full stock of what they saw, when a sudden exclamation came from Esbul. "Excellency, something behind us!" he whispered. "Stop! There's someone coming up from the Turkish camp," muttered Philip, making a dive for his revolver.