The silence that had prevailed amongst his men broke suddenly as they
searched quickly among the dead. The Sheik waited impassively, silent
amidst the muttered imprecations and threats of vengeance of his
followers as they laid beside him the six remains of what had been
Diana's escort, slashed and mutilated almost beyond recognition. But it
was he who noticed that the last terrible figure stirred slightly as it
was laid down, and it was into his face, grown suddenly strangely
gentle, that the dying Arab looked with fast-filming eyes. The man
smiled, the happy smile of a child that had obtained an unexpected
reward, and raised his hand painfully in salute, then pointed mutely to
the south.
The Sheik caught his follower's nerveless fingers as they fell in his
own strong grasp, and with a last effort the Arab drew his chief's hand
to his forehead and fell back dead.