Page:Harold Lamb--The House of the Falcon.djvu/286



was fully awake, but exhausted by her long vigil and the events of the last hours. It was hard for her to grasp all that came upon the heels of the caravan.

It was not long before she was conscious of a high voice from the plain not far from the Kurgan. It came out of the moonlight, wailing and shadowy as the light itself in its substance.

She could not distinguish the words. Donovan, every faculty bent into listening, breathed softly. An attentive quiet had settled upon the castle. Edith caught the drift of strange syllables, intoned after the fashion of a chant. The voice came nearer and grew more distinct. "By Jove!" She took Donovan's arm. "What is it?"

"Mahmoud. It is some kind of message. Something about the caravan being prepared. Listen:

"The stars are setting!" he repeated, "and the caravan … starts for the dawn of … nothing. O, make haste."

"It's queer." Edith shivered, not perceiving that the night cold had gripped her in her sleep. "Why, he is walking in front of the camels, and coming here."

Donovan was intent on what was passing. The chant went on.