I am glad he was not
captured. Where's Medad, Ithamar?'
'Fled into Egypt.'
'We have no force whatever, then?'
'None but your guards here.'
'They are strong enough to plunder a caravan. Honain, you say, in
favour?'
'Very high. He'll make good terms for us.'
'This is strange news.'
'Very, but true.'
'Well! you are welcome! Share our fare; 'tis rough, and somewhat scanty;
but we have feasted, and may feast again. Fled into Egypt, eh?'
'Ay! Sir.'
'Schirene, shouldst like to see the Nile?'
'I have heard of crocodiles.'
If the presence of Kisloch and his companions were not very pleasing
to Alroy, with the rest of the band they soon became great favourites.
Their local knowledge, and their experience of desert life, made them
valuable allies, and their boisterous jocularity and unceasing merriment
were not unwelcome in the present monotonous existence of the fugitives.
As for Alroy himself, he meditated an escape to Egypt. He determined
to seize the first opportunity of procuring some camels, and then,
dispersing his band, with the exception of Benaiah and a few faithful
retainers, he trusted that, disguised as merchants, they might succeed
in crossing Syria, and entering Africa by Palestine.
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