But there was the Arab still nearer to them and moving with a swift agility.

A ray of sunlight struck through the branches of a tree and burned suddenly like a dancing flame on something the man carried--a carbine with a brass hammer.

And the next moment a sound proved beyond all doubt to Hillyard that his eyes did not deceive him.

For he heard the slapping of the Arab's loose slippers upon the hard-caked earth.
Oh yes, the man was real enough.

For the shikari suddenly swerved from the head of the file towards the stranger and stopped.