Harry bowed his head.
"And the Black Dog?" asked Cortes.
"He also is dead," said Harry, speaking for the first time.
"Dead!" cried Cortes, without expression in his voice.
"Yes," said Harry. "And the Sunstone is lost, and von Hardenberg will starve to death in the Caves of Zoroaster."
Cortes seated himself once more upon the ground, extending his hands towards the fire. There were no tears in his eyes; his voice was without a tremor.
"When you feel able to do so," said he, turning his face to Harry, "will you please tell me what happened."
Harry related the story from beginning to end. He told how Fernando and himself had followed the sheikh across the mountains, and of how they had run the man to earth upon a narrow ledge at the top of an enormous cliff. He then described the struggle that had taken place, with its grim and terrible conclusion.
When the boy had finished speaking, Cortes looked up at the moon.
"In four hours," said he, "it will be daylight. We can do nothing till then. When the dawn comes we will search for the bodies."