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"I see I suppose they are a fair height fros as ladders," said Sir Richard dryly "Of course a ht keep an attacking party at bay almost indefinitely But I'm afraid our supply of munitions is somewhat scanty, and omen--and children--to defend----" He broke off suddenly as the native began to speak

"You go a-back, bring help, bring entleo quick--bring the soldierestions

"Yes" Sir Richard's face lighted up "I see what he means Anstice, you or I must make all speed back to Cairo and fetch out some soldiers The barracks sith them, and if I know them they'll jump at the chance of a little scrap like this With luck you'd be back in three days--less, if you pushed your horses--and by God I believe we could hold the Fort till then!"

As he finished the native nodded his head as though in approval of the plan; but suddenly his expressive features lengthened, and he said so in a lower tone to Sir Richard in which the words "El Hakim" occurred more than once

Sir Richard listened restively, and uttered an exclamation of annoyance

"Well, well, there's no need to repeat it so often! Anstice, this fellow points out that after all I had better be the one to go for help, as he says your aid is urgently required at the Fort Besides Cheniston, who seeather, to be in about the saht when the besiegers tried to force an entrance, and I suppose the sooner you get to the in that," conceded Anstice, reluctant to deepen the disappointment in Sir Richard's face "You see, sir, the sooner I fix up Cheniston the better--but why shouldn't this fellow go and fetch help instead of you?"

Sir Richard's eyes brightened, but after another colloquy with the Arab his former air of dejection returned

"He says--confound him--that the authorities in Cairo would pay more attention toAlso he points out that with his knowledge of the land and of the language he would be of arrison"--he used the word half ashamedly--"than I, who know little of either His plan is for me to return immediately with all possible speed to fetch help, while you and he seek, under cover of night, to enter the Fort, a task which I gather," said Sir Richard griether devoid of risk"