“M’sieur has asked me a question,” observed the Chasseur, raising his eyebrows; “I have replied to the best of my knowledge.”
“And Hadj Absalam? What has become of him?” I asked, noticing that we were now passing heaps of human bones, already stripped by the vultures and whitened by the sun.
“We captured him when we entered the palace, and imprisoned him in one of the smaller chambers, under a strong guard. He endeavoured to commit suicide, but was prevented.”
I asked no further question. I remembered only the sweet, beautiful face of the brave, fearless woman to whom I owed my life, and who had promised to love me always. How her calm, serious, wistful countenance came up before me! Surely it could not be that I was never to look again into those dark, luminous eyes, so appealing and so true—surely they were not closed for ever in death! Now I had successfully elucidated the mystery that had remained an unsolved problem a thousand years, surely she would not be snatched from me! Yet Zouave guards were resting on their rifles at the gate; in the open space beyond a bugle was sounding, and a word of command shouted in French brought to a halt half a battalion of Turcos in marching order. Agadez was in the possession of the French. Ever extending their territory in the Soudan, they had, while breaking the power of the Ennitra, firmly established themselves at another important advanced post. But at what cost? Alas! at the cost of my happiness!
I was dazed, stupefied. The only idea I could grasp was that all my efforts through long and weary months had been in vain; that I had been unable to save her. Truly, the Omen of the Camel’s Hoof was being fulfilled!
Without pausing to gaze upon the half-burned town, I sped onward to the Fáda, where I was told I should probably discover my friend, Captain Carmier. My search did not occupy long, for I found him in the ruined Hall of the Divan, in conversation with General Seignouret, the elderly officer in command of the expedition.
“You! mon cher Cecil?” cried the Captain gaily, extending his hand as I advanced. “What brings you here?”
“Cannot you guess?” I answered.
“You told me months ago at Tuggurt that you were journeying here to fulfil some strange promise you had made to a woman. You little expected to find us here before you—eh?” he asked, laughing.
“When I was your guest on my way south, I could not tell you the object of my journey, as I had promised to keep it secret.”