“The Sit, Excellency,” he said briefly, as Trenchard sprang towards him and took Helen into his arms.
“Helen! My beloved! You at last!”
He let her slip to her feet and crushed her up against his heart whilst the Arabs busied themselves with the camels’ packs.
“Dearest,” whispered Helen, as she lifted her radiant face to his, “I began to think I should never see you again.”
“We must hasten, Excellencies. Life stretches before you full of hours of happiness; these moments are fraught with danger. ‘Mine Eyes’ and I will follow you or not, as wills Allah, the one and only God of mercy and compassion. I will lead her Excellency’s camel across the hidden path, ‘Mine Eyes’ will lead yours, your Excellency; Namlah, desert born, will ride her own, wilt thou not, sister?”
Namlah laughed softly.
She was helping her son to tighten knots and to fasten the loads upon the camels’ backs still more securely.
“Yea, brother, that will I. I would cross the desert on foot to escape from the claws of the tiger-cat. All is ready, Excellency. A water-skin each, and much bread and many luscious dates, coffee and the wherewithal to make many cups. A tent for the noonday heat. To the north-east, and then due north, his Excellency says, and may Allah guide our feet and thy feet, O blind brother, to liberty and peace!”
Trenchard and Helen made one last effort to induce Yussuf and “His Eyes” to join them.
“Now’s your chance, Yussuf. It seems so much like running away to leave you to face the row by yourself.”