Presently, they made the excuse that they wanted, to buy some flour and ghee before the shops were closed; and, with a friendly nod to the two soldiers, stopped before the stall of a peasant who had, on a little stand in front of him, a large jar of ghee.

Having purchased some, they went a little farther, and laid in a fresh supply of flour.
"Things are very dear," Surajah remarked.
"There is very little left in the village," the man said.

"All the flour was bought up yesterday, for the sultan's army, which, they say, is coming in this direction; and I have only got what you see here.

It has been pounded, by my wife and some other women, since morning." "That is good enough," Dick said, as they walked away.

"Our work is done, Surajah, and it is not likely that we should learn anything more, if we were to stop here for a week.