“To-morrow we pass through the mountains of the Jebel Aweibid range, and find the Haj road, which, glory to Allah, will be free of pilgrims until next moon.  That road we will follow as far as the fertility of Airud, passing that spot afar off, as even in this month caravans will congregate there; then crossing the canal a space higher than Suez, where crowds embark and disembark, we will pick up the Haj road on the far side, making use of it to pass through the Jebel Rabah range, leaving it, once through, to strike to the East, and find our way at last to the peace of my own habitation.”

Upon which explanation Jill sat back on her heels, and wrinkled her brow.

“But surely the easiest way would have been by boat to Suez!”

“True, O! woman, whose eyes ringed with the shadows of fatigue are as blue flowers growing in the mountain’s purple shade.  I pondered long before I made decision in my choice of roads.  Upon the one we traverse, you could but meet fatigue, and in this month, but few travellers upon the way that leads to Mecca.

“Upon the boat you would have met many of your land, friends maybe, who perchance would have turned upon you the eyes of suspicion, the shoulder cold with disdainful convention, whilst their tongue, more poisonous even than the forked tip of the cerastes cornutus,[1] might, nay, would, have striven to corrupt your mind with a festering mass of doubt and suspicion and misgiving.  Therefore have I brought you on this journey, which is so much longer, and is likely to kill you with fatigue.  Verily, for behold the half is not yet accomplished.”

Jill, who had unconsciously taken the sharp stick from the Arab, and had also, unconsciously, been drawing monstrous beasts in the sand, lifted her head and made a slight grimace.

“Oh! but you will kill me, you will really!  And to think that I thought you lived quite near Cairo!  Where are we going really?”

And Hahmed, overcome by an almost irresistible longing to take the girl in his arms and hold her close against all dangers and discomforts, suddenly rose to his feet, standing towering over her, and when she held out both her hands, asking to be helped up, leant down and raised her as lightly as though she were of thistle’s down.

Then there came about one of those pauses which sometimes do come to pass between man and woman, a pause in which, as there is no midway, either much is won or lost.

As still as a mouse, Jill lay in his arms, until he very gently set her upon her feet; and though a little ripple akin to disappointment disturbed the smooth surface of her content, she said “Thank you,” and smiled sweetly into the grave face which showed no sign of a pulse disturbed by a thudding heart.  And then Jill sat down again upon her cushions, drawing her knees up under her chin and clasping them with her hands, and the shadow of the man falling upon her, left her well content, and still more content did she feel when he stretched himself full length beside her and continued speaking.