"No, walk in the middle. We shall be obliged to go at a walk, for the horses cannot gallop down this defile."
The little band went cautiously along the narrow gorge, for they feared they might be attacked there. Nothing, in fact, would have been easier than for the Bedouins to have concealed themselves behind the rocks and hillocks of sand, and to have picked off, one by one, each individual horseman. But the Nomads were ignorant of the number of the enemy, and cautiously awaited their approach. As soon, however, as they saw that only two additions, the sentinel and the rescued captive, had been made to the troop, they resumed the defensive at once.
During the hour that had passed they had had time to collect their horses and camels, to saddle them, to gather together all their armed men, and so to form a compact body, which, if not very numerous, was still sufficiently formidable.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
After a short deliberation the Europeans, calm and resolute, advanced towards the camp, and as they did so the interpreter, Ali, who was riding by the side of MM. Périères and Delange, said to them—
"Do you notice that the number of our adversaries appears to have decreased? I counted them an hour ago, and then they mustered thirty, besides the five who were escaping with their prisoner and whom we overtook. Now there are only twenty-two, and that at a time when they need all their strength. What has become of the others?"
"They are going to take us in rear," replied M. Delange. "Be cautious."
"I have no fear on that score," said the interpreter. "The Bedouins despise that class of tactics; they know nothing about advanced parties or rearguards. I have an altogether different idea."
"And that is?" asked the two Frenchmen, simultaneously.
"The men whose absence I have just noticed may very well be employed, at this moment, in keeping guard over their second prisoner, your friend."