Part 54 (2/2)

”No good,” he sighed. ”We'd better stay and fight it out, Professor. Stick close to me, Lenora.”

They drew up and hastily dismounted. The Mongars closed in around them. A cloud had drifted in front of the moon, and in the darkness it was almost impossible to see their whereabouts. They heard the Chief's voice.

”Shoot first that dog of a Craig!”

There was a shriek. Suddenly Feerda, breaking loose from the others, raced across the little division. She flung herself from her horse.

”Tell my father that you were not faithless,” she pleaded. ”They shall not kill you!”

She clung to Craig's neck. The bullets were beginning to whistle around them now. All of a sudden she threw up her arms. Craig, in a fury, turned around and fired into the darkness. Then suddenly, as though on the bidding of some unspoken word, there was a queer silence. Every one was distinctly conscious of an alien sound--the soft thud of many horses' feet galloping from the right; then a sharp, English voice of command.

”Hold your fire, men. Close into the left there. Steady!”

The cloud suddenly rolled away from the moon. A long line of hors.e.m.e.n were immediately visible. The officer in front rode forward.

”Drop your arms and surrender,” he ordered sternly.

The Mongars, who were outnumbered by twenty to one, obeyed without hesitation. Their Chief seemed unconscious, even, of what had happened. He was on his knees, bending over the body of Feerda, half supported in Craig's arms. The officer turned to Quest.

”Are you the party who left Port Said for the Mongar Camp?” he asked.

Quest nodded.

”They took us into the jungle--just escaped. They'd caught us here, though, and I'm afraid we were about finished if you hadn't come along. We are not English--we're American.”

”Same thing,” the officer replied, as he held out his hand. ”Stack up their arms, men,” he ordered, turning around. ”Tie them in twos. Dennis, take the young ladies back to the commissariat camels.”

The Professor drew a little sigh.

”Commissariat!” he murmured. ”That sounds most inviting.”

CHAPTER XIII

'NEATH IRON WHEELS

1.

Side by side they leaned over the rail of the steamer and gazed sh.o.r.ewards at the slowly unfolding scene before them. For some time they had all preserved an almost ecstatic silence.

”Oh, but it's good to see home again!” Laura sighed at last.

”I'm with you,” Quest agreed emphatically. ”It's the wrong side of the continent, perhaps, but I'm aching to set my foot on American soil again.”

”This the wrong side of the continent! I should say not!” Laura exclaimed, pointing to where in the distance the buildings of the Exposition gleamed almost snow-white in the dazzling suns.h.i.+ne. ”Why, I have never seen anything so beautiful in my life.”

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