By the time the weary officers reached the outskirts of the cotton-fields the sun was low in the west, and the lengthening shadows betokened the fact that soon it would be night. A few of the felaheen peasants, still toiling, paused in their work to contemplate the unusual spectacle of a couple of Englishmen trudging at the tail end of a camel, while a Greek—there were many such in Alexandria —rode, seemingly in indolent ease, upon the animal's back.
Ahead, silhouetted against the sky, could be discerned the lofty lighthouse of Ras - el - Tin, dominating the slender minarets, and the masts of the shipping in the harbour. Just then the still air was rent by the shrill blast of a bugle. The sound was taken up in other parts of the town, while, as if to emphasize the contrast,'twixt East and West, the voices of the muezzins calling the Faithful to prayer could be faintly distinguished amidst the warlike notes of the bugles.
[Illustration: "PROGRESS WAS TEDIOUSLY SLOW">[
"I won't be sorry to have a jolly good meal and a rest," remarked Osborne. "We'll have to be sharp if we are to get in before sunset. With two slippery customers like these, our work will be cut out to prevent them giving us the slip."
"It's only that Greek rascal that worries me," said Webb. "The other fellow doesn't seem to have the courage of a worm, the sagacity of a bat, or the energy of a snail. Hallo, here's a squad of 'Gippy troops!"
Marching at the quick step affected by the native African troops, the white-clad soldiers drew near, all but the leading files enveloped in clouds of dust. At their head were two British officers in white tropical uniforms, and wearing the scarlet tarboosh of the Egyptian Government service.
Seeing the two naval men approach with their bound prisoners, the officer in command ordered the troops to halt.
"Hallo, what game has he been up to?" enquired the Major, indicating the secured Hymettus. "Trying to rob you, and caught a Tartar, eh?"