It was like passing another ship upon a hitherto empty sea.

They seemed to add a desired touch to the grim loneliness of the scene

that had begun to be a little awe-inspiring. Perhaps she was hungry,

perhaps she was tired, or perhaps she was only annoyed by the bad

arrangements of her guide, but before the advent of the mounted Arabs

Diana had been conscious of a feeling of oppression, as if the silent

desolation of the desert was weighing heavily upon her, but the body of

swiftly moving men and horses had changed the aspect utterly. An

atmosphere of life and purpose seemed to have taken the place of the

quiet stagnation that had been before their coming.

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The distance between the two parties decreased rapidly. Diana, intent

on the quickly advancing horsemen, spurred ahead of her guide with

sparkling eyes. They were near enough now to see that the horses were

beautiful creatures and that each man rode magnificently. They were

armed too, their rifles being held in front of them, not slung on their

backs as she had seen in Biskra. They passed quite close to her, only a

few yards away--a solid square, the orderly ranks suggesting training

and discipline that she had not looked for. Not a head turned in her

direction as they went by and the pace was not slackened. Fretted by

the proximity of the galloping horses, her own horse reared

impatiently, but Diana pulled him in, turning in her saddle to watch

the Arabs pass, her breath coming quick with excitement.

"What are they?" she called out to Mustafa Ali, who had dropped some

way behind her. But he, too, was looking back at the horsemen, and did

not seem to hear her question. Her escort had lagged still further

behind her guide and were some distance away. Diana watched the rapidly

moving, compact square eagerly with appreciatory eyes--it was a

beautiful sight. Then she gave a little gasp. The galloping horses had

drawn level with the last stragglers of her own party, and just beyond

they stopped suddenly. Diana would not have believed it possible that

they could have stopped so suddenly and in such close formation while

travelling at such a pace. The tremendous strain on the bridles flung

the horses far back on their haunches. But there was no time to dwell

on the wonderful horsemanship or training of the men. Events moved too

rapidly. The solid square split up and lengthened out into a long line

of two men riding abreast. Wheeling behind the last of Mustafa's men

they came back even faster than they had passed, and circled widely

round Diana and her attendants. Bewildered by this manoeuvre she

watched them with a puzzled frown, striving to soothe her horse, who

was nearly frantic with excitement. Twice they galloped round her

little band, their long cloaks fluttering, their rifles tossing in

their hands.




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