The Tragedy of the Korosko

d upon the horizon. There would be no alarm at Halfa until it was found that the steamer did not return in the evening. Even now, when the Nile was only a thin green band upon the farthest hor

he exception of Belmont, who was held back by the

ed, with the careless good-humour which even the Koran has not been able to alter. The leader of the new-comers was a greybeard, a worn, ascetic, high-nosed old man, abrupt and fierc

aid he. "I fear now that we sha

ierce doctrines of the Koran to their final conclusions. He and the Emir Wad Ibrahim conferred gravely together, their camels side by side, and their red turbans inclined inwards, so that the black beard mingled

g old gentleman in the

first to rally from th

leader now," Co

he takes command o

e dragoman; "he is n

urch in Minister Scott's time. Anyhow, I had rather be in his power than in the hands of that

you fret about me. H

he suddenness of it all, and at thinking of what your mother, who trusted you to me, would think about it. My

voice of the delirious man came again to their ears. "Come

hlesinger and the child,

e, Belmont, but I c

it. They haven't hurt you, Norah, have they?" He ran forward to grasp and ki

e two Pagan black riflemen, religion in its various forms was fulfilling the same beneficent office-whispering always that the worst which the world can do is a small thing, and that, however harsh the ways of Providence may seem, it is, on the whole, the wisest and best thing for us that we should go chee

m quite well-not even very thirsty, for our party filled their water-skins at the Nile, and they let me have as much

nswered. "You don't know how often I have thanked God to-day,

band's side? I had much, much ra

e to the town?" a

abin when the Arabs rushed on to the vessel. Those on deck had time to escape, for the boat wa

, we'll do them yet, for the garrison must have heard the firing. What d'ye think, Cochrane? They must be full cry up

had left the Colone

at all unless they c

d men with good leaders,

beating." Suddenly he

said he, "that's a

the sun and their faces to the central shrine of their religion that they prayed. And how they prayed, these fanatical Moslems! Rapt, absorbed, with yearning eyes and shining faces, rising, stooping, grovelling with their foreheads upon their praying carpets. Who could doubt, as he watched their strenuous, heart-whole devotion, that here was a great living power in the world, reactionary but tremendous, count

ch of them-what effort of the chef of the post-boat had ever tasted like that dry brown bread?-and then, luxury of luxuries, they had a second ration of a glass of water, for the fresh-filled bags of the newcomers had provided an ample supply. If the body would but follow the lead of the soul as readily as the soul does that of the body, what a heaven the earth migh

that they are forgettin

lo

at, and that they will not take him any farther. He wil

ho dashed the butt of his Remington into the Colonel's ribs. The old soldier fell forward gasping, and was carried on half senseless, clutching at the pommel of his saddle. The women began to cry, and the men, with muttered curses and clenched hands, writhed in that hell of impotent passion, where bru

f a vacillating sun was coming back along the path which it had just abandoned. A rosy pink hung over the west, with beautifully delicate sea-green tints along the upper edge of it. Slowly these faded into slate again, and the night had come. It was but twenty-four hours since they had sat in their canvas chairs discussing politics by starlight on the saloon deck of the Korosko; only twelve since t

ere, not the very faintest sound, until far away behind them they heard a human voice singing in a strong, droning, unmusical fashion. It had the strangest effect

pitch our m

march ne

is song? With moist eyes his friends looked back through the darkness, for well they knew that home was very near to this

e not hurt?" said Belmont, layi

himself, though he still gasp

Would you kindly show me whi

front there-with his c

ee him very well in this light, but I think I

some of your

knocked the w

was a frightful blow. How coul

d his throat and h

ove all not to the ladies; but I am rather older than I used to be, and r

" cried the asto

d the Colonel stiffly, and switched the con

er like a lantern on the very level of their path. They looked again, and it was a hand's-breadth up, and another was shining beneath it. Hour after hour the broad stream flowed sedately across the deep blue background, worlds and systems drifting majestically overhead, and pouring over the dark horizon. In their vastness and their beauty there was a vague consolation to the prisoners;

r him, but the attempt was too boisterous not to be obvious; and yet it was so far true that he probably felt the cold less than any of the party, for the old, old fire was burning in his heart, and a curious joy was inextricably mixed with all his misfortunes, so that he would have found it hard to say if this adventure had been the greatest evil or the greatest blessing of his lifetime. Aboard the boat, Sadie's youth, her beauty, her intelligence and humour, all made him realise that she could at the best only be expected to charitably

re all the time enjoying

h some bi

t," he answered. "But I am quite cer

ss which he had ever put into a speech,

ve had a good time myself, I never thought of those who were unhappy. This has struck me

a noble, constant man he was? And see Belmont and his wife, in front of us there, going fearlessly forward, hand in hand, thinking only of each other. And Cochrane, who always seemed on board the boat

e si

eks or months of misery, and then ends in death, I don't know where we reap the benefit

ut his professional ins

f the expedition for taking us to the Abousir Rock-or else with the Egyptian Government for n

dropped the formal Miss, but the girl

"I will try to make some one else happy in

darkness made it more easy for him to break through the reserve which was habitual with him. "You ne

know me. I have been very

ng emotions. You were sufficiently alive wit

eed emotions,

all these years I have never been stirred, never felt a real throb of human emotion pass through me. I had no time for it. I had observed it in others, and I had vaguely wondered whether there was some want in me which prevented my sharing the experience of my fellow-mortals. But now these last f

ad this soul-killin

er and my sisters to be thought of. Thank Heaven, here is the mo

without y

culation. I can manage very

nto a delicate rose-pink, with the fan-like rays of the invisible sun shooting and quivering across it. Then, suddenly, they felt its warm touch upon their backs, and there were hard black shadows upon the sand in front of them. The Dervish

, Colonel Cochrane?

't," snapped

ortant-all our safe

ned and pulled a

is it?" he a

ack to Egypt. My wife and home, and children, are on one part, an

l, g

n who spoke with you-t

ck

what o

ad a long talk with him. He said that he could not very

did he

lack and two fellaheen. He said that he wished to have your promise th

rse the

one hundred Egyp

hall ha

k you, but that I was sure

they prop

t they should ride their camels not very far from you, so that

ndred pounds each if they will help us. You

ead. "Too much dang

ail, then that will be

u have said." He strol

oming his camel and

ible that they should move for some time. They had laid their long necks upon the ground, which is the last symptom of fatigue. The two chiefs shook their heads when they inspecte

s. If it were not for you, he says that we could travel twice as fast. He wishes to know therefore, once for ever, if you will accept the Koran." Then in

each other in despair. The two E

hrane, "I had as soon d

rto

say, Norah?"

John, I don't think

for the honour of a Frenchman that he should be converted in this fashion." He drew himself up, with his wounded wr

tephens?" asked Mansoor

hange, it might place

that you do

" said the la

Miss Adams? It is only just to s

ink we might?" whimper

o very wrong i

strong! You would just hate yourself for ever after. Keep your grip of me, dear, and pray if you find

the less they feared him. They were conscious rather of a feeling of curiosity, together with the nervous tingling with which one approaches a dentist's cha

a scissors for?"

men," said Mansoor, with th

ng, but these insufferable details were another. Each had been braced to endure any evil in his own person, b

Miss Adams," said B

ortured! We w

e, I'll turn Mohammedan if they'll promise to leave the women alone. After

gion. Put it smooth when you translate it. Tell him that he cannot expect us to adopt it until we know what particular brand of rot it is that he wants us to believe. Tell him that if he will instruct us,

tle more light of knowledge to guide them on to the path of Allah. The two Emirs stroked their beards and gazed suspiciously at them. Then Abderra

e a rest. His own Moolah, a very good and learned man, will come to give you an hour of teaching. At the end of that time you will choose on

n't take

ut the Emir Abderrahm

ou to give

e yourself? You ar

deeply as his com

rrow morning. I serve the Lord as long as what He

hich showed that his change of faith had put him up

ions, for we will change all of them before we walk of our own free-wills down that broad road which every son and daughter of man must tread. Is it the fear of losing the I, that dear, intimate I, which we think we know so well, although it is eternally doing things which surprise us? Is it that which makes the deliberate suicide cling madly to the bridg