The brutes had a good start of us and made the best of it, but
at first I thought we were gaining. We got within gunshot, and fired
after them. Two at least were hit. We came on traces of fresh blood
afterward, but the birds themselves were flown. In any case, it was to
bring help I came, not to make captures. Do you think _she_ would like
me to see her now?"
"Come with me and try, before the other rescue party arrives. I'm glad
the surgeon's with you. I'm worried about Caird, and we're all a bit
dilapidated. How we're to get him and the ladies away from this place, I
don't know. Our animals are dead or dying."
"You will probably find that the enemy has been generous in spite of
himself and left you some--all that couldn't be taken away. Strange how
those men looked like Touaregs! You are sure of what they really were?"
"Sure. But since no one else knows, why should the secret leak out?
Better for the ladies if the Touareg disguise should hide the truth, as
it was meant to do."
"Why not indeed? Since we weren't lucky enough to rid his wife--and the
world of the marabout."
"Then we're agreed: unless something happens to change our minds, we
were attacked by Touaregs."
Sabine smiled grimly. "Duprez bet," he answered, "that I should find
they were not Arabs, but Touaregs. He will enjoy saying 'I told you
so.'"
* * * * * * *
That night, and for many nights to come, there was wailing in the
Zaouia.
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