The Way of the Spirit | Page 7

sunset would be fine seen from the top of a cliff
behind him, he set to work to toil up the steep slope of sand, following
a little track made by the jackals from the river-bank to their holes in
the rocks, for he knew that these cunning animals would choose the
easiest path.
Reaching the crest at length, he paused a while to look at the endless
desert and the fiery ball of the sun sinking towards it so swiftly that he
could almost see it move, as it does, or seems to do, in Egypt. It was
going down behind two distant, solitary mountains; indeed, for a few
seconds, perhaps a minute, its great red globe seemed to rest upon the
very point of one of these mountains. Contemplating it and them, he
recalled a legend which an old Arab had told him, that beyond those
mountains was a temple larger and finer than Abu-Simbel. He had
asked how far it was away and why no one went there, and learned that
it was a great distance off, deep in the desert, and that if anyone looked
upon it he died, for it was the home of magicians who did not call on

Allah and rejected his prophet. Therefore no one did look, only the
legend remained, which, the Arab had added, without doubt was true.
Forgetting the tale of this fabled temple, Rupert pursued his walk past
the graves of some of the Khalifa's emirs who had been wounded in the
battle of Toski, a few miles away, and when they succumbed, hastily
buried where they died by their retreating comrades. He knew the man
who lay beneath one of those rough piles of stones--a brave Dervish of
high rank, who had very nearly put an end to himself and his earthly
adventures. He could see the fellow coming at him now, yelling his
war-cry and shaking his great spear. Luckily he had his revolver in his
hand and was able to shoot before that spear fell. The bullet struck his
enemy somewhere in the head, for he saw the blood appear and the
man reel off from him as though he were drunk. Then he lost sight of
him in the turmoil and slaughter, but afterwards was told that he died
upon the retreat, and was shown his grave by a prisoner who had
helped to bury him.
Whilst he was regarding it with the respect that one brave man has for
another, even though that other be a cruel and fanatical heathen, Rupert
became aware of a shadow falling upon him, which, from its long, ugly
shape, he knew must be cast by a camel. Turning, he perceived a white
dromedary bearing down upon him swiftly, its soft, sponge-like hoofs
making so little noise upon the sand that he had never heard it coming.
On the back of the camel sat an Arab sheik, who held three spears in
his hand, one large and two small. Suspecting a sudden attack, as well
might happen to him in that lonely place at the hands of a fanatic, he
sprang back behind the grave and drew his pistol, whereon the man
called out to him to put it up in the name of God as he came in peace,
not war.
"Dismount," answered Rupert sternly, "and thrown down your spears."
The Arab stopped his dromedary, commanded it to kneel, and slipping
from the saddle, laid down the spears and bowed himself humbly.
"What are your name and business," asked Rupert, "and why do you
come on me thus alone?"

"Bey," he answered, "I am Ibrahim, the Sheik of the Land of the Sweet
Wells out yonder. I came to your camp with my attendants, and being
told that you were here upon the hill-top, followed to speak with you, if
it pleases you to open your ears to me."
Rupert studied his visitor. He was a very handsome but cruel-looking
man of about forty years of age, with flashing black eyes, a hooked
nose, and a short, pointed beard which had begun to turn grey.
"I know you," he said. "You are a traitor to the Government of Egypt,
from which you have taken many benefits. You received the Khalifa's
General, Wad en-Negumi, and supplied him with food, water, and
camels. Had it not been for you, perhaps he could not have advanced,
and had it not been for you, many more of his people must have been
captured. How dare you show your face to me?"
"Bey," said the Sheik humbly, "that story is not true. What I did for
Abdullahi's soldiers, I did because I must, or die. May his name be
accursed!" and he spat upon the ground. "Now I come to seek justice
from you,