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Inclination made him wish to remain, but he must go. Seeing his charge's mind was made up, Naoum, with the philosophy of the East, attempted no further persuasion, and resigned himself to the inevitable. "When, then, will you leave?" he asked. "As soon as you will help me to land," George answered at once. "Do not think me ungrateful, Naoum I am only doing my duty."
One evening he was seated beside the open window, Mariam was busying herself with arranging his supper, when he broached the subject that was ever in his thoughts. "Mariam," he said, without turning his head, "tell me about the work that you and Naoum require of me. Is there yet time, or has my recovery been too long delayed?" The old woman ceased in her preparations and came beside him.
The landing-stage reached, Helmar sprang ashore, and, with a hearty grip of the hand and a quiet "good-bye and good luck," they parted. Each felt he knew the other's thoughts, and, if good wishes could help them, there was no doubt their lives would be prosperous and happy. "Allah is good. I shall see the boy again," thought Naoum.
They passed through the opening, and the stone swung back into its original position as they hurried up the steps. "We are quite safe from pursuit now," said the guide. "They cannot move that stone; only three persons know its secret Naoum, Mariam, and I. We have nothing to fear until we reach the open air."
These were the dahabîehs, one of which was to carry them down to Alexandria. As they reached the water's edge, Naoum gave a peculiar low whistle, and a boat suddenly shot out from the vessel's side, propelled by a solitary occupant. The boat had hardly appeared when four men dashed out from the shadow and ran on to the shore towards the fugitives.
For a moment or two he looked about him and tried to recall what had happened. At first it seemed like some horrid nightmare, but when he stood up and stretched himself he knew that it was all reality. He was greatly refreshed with his sleep, and now awaited eagerly the return of Naoum.
He spoke with determination, and Naoum was not slow to appreciate the sentiments that prompted him; yet he would not see him deliberately plunge into the deadly danger that awaited him ashore. "As I said, you can't land, friend Helmar. Allah has guided your steps to me, and you will have to throw in your lot on this boat until we can find a safe means for your escape.
"Only that once with your people in the railway train," replied George, at once. "Has my mother spoken to you of the matter in hand when there has been any one near enough to have possibly overheard the conversation?" "Decidedly not," was the prompt reply. "Strange!" muttered Naoum. "However, it cannot now be helped.
Possibly Abdu was not aware that his prisoner could speak Arabic, for they conversed quite freely, and George distinctly heard every word they said. Abdu was the man his attention was mainly fixed upon. "No, no," he was saying, "the officer Arden has been fooled by this Naoum. Arabi would have killed him at once but for the money-man Naoum.
So long now had he known Naoum, and though he had not always been near him, his protection had been always felt, that the parting left him with a sense of loneliness which he had never before experienced, and for some time he was quite depressed. Realizing the folly of giving way to it, he at last pulled himself together and thought over the enterprise on which he was to embark.
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