distance after we emerged upon a green and level plain, and having scanned it narrowly, my companion pointed towards the East, exclaiming as he did so:—
"If I am not mistaken, Harold, yonder are the trees under which we pitched our tent.'
I looked in the direction indicated and saw the majestic grove of walnut trees which we had left when we set out to follow the black horsemen. Hassan, who was within the tent, came out as he heard footsteps approaching:—
"The Sahibs have lost their horses?" he said, in his grave inquiring tone, "and have been absent from the tent for many hours, which brought much anxiety to their faithful slave."
"Back!" he cried.
"Well, Hassan, as that is the case," said Denviers lightly, "you will have the pleasure of purchasing two more for us."
"The hightest word of the Sahib is as a law unto Hassan," responded the Arab.
"No doubt!" said Denviers, then turning to me he added:—
"And I daresay he will make a tolerably good bargain, for our faithful guide doesn't usually forget himself on such occasions!"
Indeed, the amount of backsheesh which our grave Arab levied before the day was over from a village horsedealer of Sultanabad was a convincing testimony to the truth of Frank's remark.
