Page:Vance--Terence O'Rourke.djvu/138

 have extorted tribute money from the invaders, after sustaining at their hands a putative defeat; and there was nought to be gained by lingering in the vicinity—unless it were a gratification of his curiosity.

On the route to the oasis, however, no sign of a Tawarek had been seen by O'Rourke's command; and it was there only that the natives had left traces of their camp about the wells.

O'Rourke returned to the Eirene, and reported, advising his majesty that there was in his judgment no cause to fear another attack. Preparations were accordingly put forward with all haste toward the landing of provisions, the tents, and varied paraphernalia with which the yacht had been laden with a view to making existence in the desert endurable.

For it had been decided at a protracted session of the council (which was suddenly subservient to the will of O'Rourke) that Lemercier and his party would not return to Las Palmas with the yacht; they were to land and make a settlement—in a way as proof of their good intentions: a first definite move toward the establishment of the Empire of the Sahara.

Even Madame la Princesse was determined to stay by the side of her brother, and positively refused to put herself out of possible danger by returning to Europe, as she had been urged to do by the party.

Chambret alone was to go with the wounded, intrusted also with other commissions than that of seeing Danny and his fellows safely in hospital.

Portable houses had been bought in large numbers by Lemercier before starting upon his expedition; they should by that time have arrived at Las Palmas, if the contractors had kept their words about shipment.

These Chambret was to see stowed aboard the Eirene,