"Which way has he fled?" asked the Amir, fiercely.
"By the hoof-tracks it appears in the backward track towards the sea, by the way that we traversed to-day."
"Thirty miles to the nearest well, and but the stars to guide—a perilous journey," observed the Amir, "even mounted as he is. But we must give chase; saddle the horses at once; though no horse," Ali bitterly added, "will ever overtake my fleet-footed steed. I would not have lost him for ten thousand pieces of silver. But, let it cost what it may, I will have revenge on that murderous villain!"
It was a bitter disappointment to Robin to have to turn back from the direction of Djauf to retrace the way which, even when he had been incited by hope, he had found so terribly tedious, the horses having had to keep pace with the slow-footed camels. In vain Robin tried to persuade Ali to forego the hope of revenge, to leave Hassan to his perilous ride, and not attempt to pursue him. Ali was intensely obstinate when once he had made up his mind.
When Robin looked on the carcase of the poor dog, now stretched out in death, and thought of what, but for a merciful interposition, would have been his own fate, he returned fervent thanks to his Heavenly Preserver from the depths of a grateful heart.
The Amir mounted Hassan's black steed, and made Robin ride on a smaller one by his side. Only the horsemen could possibly overtake the fugitive—the camels must follow more slowly. All the animals were tired, and their tedious pace annoyed the Amir, who freely used his spur. All that was savage in Ali's nature was roused, every feature expressed the anger within, his very voice seemed altered, the softness of the Persian tongue lost in the imprecations with which these pages shall not be sullied.
"You shall drink deep of the cup of revenge!" said the Amir to his English companion.
"I do not wish to do so," was Robin's reply; "revenge is forbidden to Christians; we are commanded to love our enemies."
"Another of the commandments of your religion which it is impossible to obey!" cried Ali, with something like scorn.
"Not impossible," said Robin, "since He who gave the command Himself fulfilled it."