The Sheik

The silence that had prevailed amongst his men broke suddenly as they

searched quickly among the dead. The Sheik waited impassively, silent

amidst the muttered imprecations and threats of vengeance of his

followers as they laid beside him the six remains of what had been

Diana's escort, slashed and mutilated almost beyond recognition. But it

was he who noticed that the last terrible figure stirred slightly as it

was laid down, and it was into his face, grown suddenly strangely

gentle, that the dying Arab looked with fast-filming eyes. The man

smiled, the happy smile of a child that had obtained an unexpected

reward, and raised his hand painfully in salute, then pointed mutely to

the south.

The Sheik caught his follower's nerveless fingers as they fell in his

own strong grasp, and with a last effort the Arab drew his chief's hand

to his forehead and fell back dead.