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He marched blithely on and on, ever companioned by that new and thrice welcoh at each step he took the fetters hich a great regret had for so long shackled his soul grew looser and less binding, until it seeether, and allow him once more to face the world as a free man, and not the captive of a cruel and unjust fate

He had reached the outskirts of the village before the necessity for caution reasserted itself; but just as he was passing, as softly as possible, the little group of palli, as it seemed, round the trunks of those same trees; and in another second he knew that by an unlucky chance the ht have taken cover

There was no tiht look up and see hiht; and although the Fort was not more than a quarter of a ht well be in favour of the desert-bred man

True, he was armed--for in spite of his protests Garnett had insisted on hi one of the few revolvers owned by the little defending force; but he did not wish to fire, save in the last extree and cut off his one chance of regaining the shelter of the Fort

There was just a possibility that the ht not see him, so intent was he at the e; and in a second Anstice had taken his resolve--a desperate resolve enough, but the only one he could foran, instantly, to run, and so noiseless was his progress that no sound reached the ears of the prowling Bedouin; and had the native's other senses been less keen, it is possible Anstice would have escaped notice altogether

Unfortunately the ure, which stood out only too plainly in that empty expanse of h he could barely believe the evidence of his eyes, the native left his hiding-place and began to run with quick, loping gait after the fugitive, calling out so voice as he ran

In his college days Anstice had been so since relinquished any sporting aht once have cherished, he had reason to bless his own turn of speed, which, being a natural and not an acquired gift, did not fail him now