or Dakhman was only a waste of time. The object of these people was evidently to get possession of as many rifles as they could by false pretences, and in the meantime to prevent our having access to any more business-like tribe. I was heart-sick at their lying and treachery, but there was nothing to be done but to keep up the farce, discuss the prospects of trade and the future of Arksis as a thriving port, and take the first opportunity of getting on board the Tourmaline. I had had my fears for some time past, but now there was no room for doubt.

Sleep 'that knits up the ravell'd sleave of care' is often tardiest when we want her most, and all through the night my dearly-longed-for rest was broken by the cries of the guard to the sentry outside, and the latter's dismal howl that all was well. That is how it may have struck him, but to me things seemed to be anything but 'all well.'

CHAPTER X.

NAVAL MANŒUVRES.

A reconnoitre from the Tourmaline-The arrival of the HassaniA disappointment-The Hassani goes in pursuit-Novel method of communicating at sea-An attempt is made to board the Tourmaline-The chiefs agitate for rifles-More naval manœuvres-A pitiable spectacle-The Susi open fire on the Hassani's boats—A warm quarter of an hour-Sabbah loses his appetite, but finds his tongue.

THURSDAY, January 13.-We had now been a week ashore-the time we had had to wait on board before we could land.

El Arabi wakened us with the news that the Tourmaline was close in, and that a boat was coming ashore. We hurriedly dressed whilst Sabbah excitedly commenced to pack up the camp-beds and other things, as if the boat had already landed. Anxious to avoid arousing the suspicions of the natives as to our intentions, I told him to desist, and going outside the tent, I saw the boat turn round before she reached the mouth of the cave, and make her way back to the yacht. The Captain himself was in the boat, but he evidently considered the breakers still too big to risk a landing. The proximity of the yacht, however, was some sort of comfort, and we observed with satisfaction that the boat was not hoisted on to the davits again,

but run out astern, to be ready for another attempt at high-tide, no doubt. But it was anxious waiting, especially as to us on the cliff it seemed as if the sea was going down every minute, and that a boat could land in safety.

Hours passed by, but still there was no sign, so Beyerle and I took a stroll outside the camp to look for snakes. It was a very hot morning, just such a day as would be likely to tempt the reptiles to come out and bask in the sunshine; but before we got far afield a Sbooya came running towards us to say that a steamer was in sight, and pointed away to the northward. We could see nothing, but, returning to the tent for the glasses, could just make out on the far horizon a faint curl of smoke. This was not the track of any trading steamers: their course lay far away to the westward. It could only be the Hassani. And as she came nearer we could make out three masts, and then a dark clumsy hull high out of the water, and knew that the Sultan's navy' was bearing down

upon us.

The Tourmaline did not appear to have observed her approach, so, going to the head of the cliff, I fired several shots from my revolver to attract attention. Still she made no sign, so I took a Mannlicher and fired three shots which could be heard a mile or two away. That they evidently heard, for presently steam was seen issuing from the winch, betokening the lifting of the anchor. 'Now surely they will send the boat,' I thought. The sea is quite calm, and at her slow rate of steaming the Hassani will not be here for an hour yet. It is only twelve o'clock; we shall have our next meal on board the yacht.' And as we watched we saw the boat being hauled alongside.

But what a disappointment! Instead of being manned to go ashore, it was hauled upon the davits, and before we had recovered from our astonishment the yacht had swung round and was steaming out to sea. We could only look at each other in blank dismay, scarcely able to believe the evidence of our senses. It was stern fact none the less. We felt with the London coster whose barrow was overturned by a bus, the contents being rolled all over the muddy street, that 'there weren't no bloomin' word fer it.' Beyerle merely remarked: 'I think we had better go and get our lunch.' And finding wisdom in the proposition, I walked back with him to the tent.

Meanwhile the Hassani had altered her course as if in pursuit, and, with the Moorish ensign flying astern, ran up the signal, I wish to communicate.' When the yacht had passed the three-mile limit, and was no longer in Moorish waters, but upon the 'high seas,' she turned to meet her pursuer and ran up the answering pennant in reply to the Hassani's signals. We noticed, however, that the yacht's stern was kept steadily turned towards the Sultan's boat, and could picture the Major at the Maxim, with his eyeglass in his eye, and his hand on the string ready for emergencies.

Tacking and dodging was the order of things for some time, and then at two o'clock precisely a boat containing the chief officer and about a score of armed men was lowered from the port side of the Hassani and pulled towards the yacht. The Captain's orders to his chief officer were to board the steamer, and tell the commander he had to follow the Hassani to Mogador'—an order that was even more improper than it was ridiculous, seeing that neither the Captain nor