For the silence was ominous; even the gunboats had ceased firing, and their guard had made no sign.
In the hurried discussion which ensued, the professor drew attention to this; but it was repelled with contempt by Harry.
“What of that?” he said. “The forts were so much mud, with a few poorly served guns. They have been silenced, and there is nothing more to fire at. Even now the boats may have landed men who are marching into the town.”
“But the firing on the field!” said Frank excitedly. “Oh, if we only knew!”
Almost as he spoke the Emir’s officer came in, and there was a look of triumph in his eyes as he said to the Sheikh—
“There will be no journey to-day, O Sheikh, for the enemies of Allah are being swept away. The Emir my master will be back before night, and all my prisoners are safe.”
He left them, and they saw that he went in the direction of the women’s part of the palace, evidently to give his good news there and set the poor creatures at rest; but he could hardly have reached their quarters before the firing broke out again, certainly nearer and fiercer than before.
“He spoke too soon!” cried Harry excitedly. “We shall beat the savage wretches yet!”
The firing rose and fell, and rose again, and to the hearers the suspense grew unbearable, Frank and his brother feeling that at all risks they must try by some means to get tidings of how the battle fared.
Again there was a cessation and a long interval of silence.