Almost involuntarily each member of the party looked back.

Outside the breach of the broken wall, standing clear to view with the wind from the hills sweeping townward from them, were diabolical figures, naked and black, feeding immense pyres with hideous fuel.
Past this grisly line, a camel with a single rider swept in from seaward.

The traveler lifted an arm and signaled to the party.

Aquila seemed not to see this hail, and rode on; but Costobarus, after the traveler motioned to them once more, spoke: "Does not this person make signs to us, Aquila ?" The pagan looked back.
"Why should he ?" he asked.
"He can tell us," the master observed and spoke to Momus and Hiram, who drew up their camels.

The traveler raced alongside.
It was a woman, veiled and wrapped with all the jealous care of the East against the curious eyes of strangers.