Page:The tragedy of the Korosko (IA tragedyofkorosko00doylrich).pdf/241

 understood enough to set a little spring of hope bubbling in his heart. The last terrible day had left its mark in his livid face and his hair, which was turning rapidly to grey. He might have been the father of the spruce well-preserved soldier who had paced with straight back and military stride up and down the saloon deck of the Korosko.

“That is excellent,” said he. “But what are we to do about the three ladies?”

The black soldier shrugged his shoulders.

“Mefeesh!” said he. “One of them is old, and in any case there are plenty more women if we get back to Egypt. These will not come to any hurt, but they will be placed in the harem of the Khalifa.”

“What you say is nonsense,” said the Colonel sternly. “We shall take our women with us, or we shall not go at all.”

“I think it is rather you who talk the thing without sense,” the black man answered angrily. “How can you ask my companions and me to do that which must end in failure? For years we have waited for such a chance as this, and now