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〃Straight to the point as always； Mrs。 Emerson。 You are right to remind me we ought not waste time。 The answer to your question is no。 I have been waiting for him。〃
〃Good Gad；〃 Emerson exclaimed； recovering from his understandable surprise。 〃I never expected to see you again； Sir Edward； the last I heard； you were in 。 。 。〃 He broke off； staring at the empty sleeve。
〃France；〃 said Sir Edward coolly。 〃As you see； I have returned to private life。〃
〃Did you follow us？〃 I asked。
〃Only until you were safely out of the metropolis。 Didn't you hear me encouraging the riot？ Kept everybody busy and happy and out of your way。〃
〃Oh；〃 said Emerson。
〃I came straight on after that；〃 Sir Edward continued blithely。 〃It was a safe assumption that you would keep the appointment。〃
〃But he didn't；〃 Emerson said。 〃Why not？〃
Sir Edward scratched his side； murmured a genteel apology； and said； 〃He may have been unable to get away。 Sahin's been watching him closely； especially since Ramses escaped。 There's no use staying here any longer。〃
〃Where shall we go； then？〃 I inquired。 〃In my opinion it would be inadvisable for us to return to Khan Yunus until we are apprised of conditions there。 Some of Sahin's men may be lurking。 Or were those assertive individuals not his men？〃
〃I assumed they were。 Don't tell me you have another set of enemies after you！〃
〃There would be nothing new in that；〃 said Ramses。 〃Have you anyplace in mind； Sir Edward？〃
Sir Edward hesitated。 Under the skillful makeup and the ingrained dirt and the wisps of beard I could see the lines of worry and indecision that marked his face。 Then he shrugged； with all his old insouciance。 〃I know a place； yes。 It's a good ten miles away； too far for the ladies to walk。 We'll need transportation。〃
〃I will go back and get the motorcar；〃 Selim offered。
〃Too risky；〃 Emerson said at once。
〃And too conspicuous；〃 Sir Edward added。 〃We'll have to borrow a few quadrupeds。 Ramses； my lad； have you ever stolen a horse？〃
〃As a matter of fact； he has；〃 I replied。
〃I don't know why I bothered to ask；〃 Sir Edward muttered。 〃There's a picket line a mile south of here。 Ramses and Selim … no； Professor； not you。 Someone must stay with the ladies。〃
〃This lady is going with you；〃 Nefret said。
FROM MANUSCRIPT H
There was only one sentry。 The enemy wasn't in the habit of sending out raiding parties； and local horse thieves had learned not to tangle with the men of the Desert Column。 Trees and growing crops gave plenty of cover； and the moon was down。 They crawled close enough to hear the snores of the men who lay rolled in their blankets beyond the line of horses。 Sir Edward brought his mouth against Ramses's ear。
〃I'm beginning to think this was a bad idea。〃
Ramses had been of that opinion from the start。 Some of the straitlaced British officers considered the ANZACs an unruly lot； impatient of discipline； who didn't even know how to ride properly。 Personally he would have preferred to have a whole troop of fox…hunting Englishmen after him than a few of these hard…bitten colonials。
Bad idea or not； it had to be done。 The girl couldn't manage a ten…mile hike； and he was concerned about his mother； who would drop in her tracks rather than admit the task was beyond her。 Anyhow； they had to get under cover before morning。 It would take too long for the slower members of the party to walk that distance。
They had planned what they had to do； and he thought they could manage it； with a little luck … and Nefret's help。 He had had to overrule Sir Edward； and his own instincts； when she announced she was ing with them； mon sense told him that her help would be invaluable。 She was an excellent rider； and she had an uncanny knack with animals。
Dealing with the sentry was his job。 It wasn't difficult； the poor devil was tired and not expecting trouble。 Ramses took him from behind with an arm across his throat； hit him hard in the pit of the stomach； and chopped him across the back of the neck as he toppled forward。 By the time he had dragged the limp body under a tree； Nefret was moving down the string of horses； whispering in their ears and stroking their necks。 When she reached the last in line； she untied the rope that passed through their bridles。
So far there had been no sound except a few soft； interested whickers from the intrigued equines。 Now they had to move fast and noisily。 Nefret scrambled onto one of the horses while Selim gave Sir Edward a hand up and mounted another。 Except for Nefret's mount； the animals were stirring uneasily。 One of the sleeping men sat up。 Ramses tossed the dangling reins over the lead horse's neck and vaulted onto its back。 It turned its head to give him an astonished stare。
〃Wrong man； I know；〃 Ramses said in a conversational voice。 〃Think of it as a temporary inconvenience。〃
There wasn't time to adjust the stirrups。 He dug his bare heels into the animal's flanks and urged it into a trot。 It responded to the touch or the English voice； or both。 The entire camp was now awake； shouts and curses echoed through the night； and someone fired a rifle。 Someone else let out a stream of oaths directed at the idiot who had fired it。 By that time the entire group of horses was in motion； following their leader and urged on by Nefret； who brought up the rear yelling and smacking assorted equine rumps with a leafy branch。 Her hair had e loose from its scarf； it streamed out behind her； silvered by starlight。 Sir Edward was hanging on； though he didn't look happy。 Selim looked very happy。 This was the sort of adventure he had had in mind all along； a wild ride with the enemy in hot pursuit。
The pursuit consisted of one trooper； running as fast as his long legs would carry him； waving his arms and calling out。 The horses broke into a gallop and the plaintive cries of 〃Mary！ Mary； love； e back！〃 faded into the night。
A real and vindictive pursuit would not be long delayed； however。 They did not slacken speed until they were near the ruins where the others were ready and waiting。 None of them wasted time in conversation； though Ramses saw the look of resignation on his mother's face。 She was not an enthusiastic horsewoman； and was accustomed to the smooth gait of their Arabians。
〃Sorry； Mother；〃 he said； offering his hands to help her mount。 〃Will you be all right？〃
〃Certainly。〃 It was the answer he had expected。
Esin couldn't manage it； though。 She had ridden only in England； with a proper lady's saddle。 Declining Selim's eager offer of assistance； Nefret mounted the girl in front of her。
〃We're leaving a trail a blind man could follow；〃 Sir Edward said； as they started off two by two。 〃And now we've got the Australians after us。〃
〃This was your idea；〃 Ramses pointed out。
〃So it was。 I hope I'll live long enough to regret it。〃
The clipped accent sounded odd from that vagabond figure。 There hadn't been time for Ramses to assimilate Sir Edward's sudden reappearance； and there were a hundred questions he wanted to ask。
〃What are you doing here？ I was under the impression that you had given up a life of crime。〃
〃I can't imagine what gave you that impression〃 was Sir Edward's bland reply