Once more the sun went down, and almost immediately afterwards it was night.
Soon the Captain himself entered the tent, and all hands had dinner.
"Doctor," said the Captain, "I have sent the boy Bungle back to report to the ship the fix we are in. If the Arabs attack us to-night, or even to-morrow, nothing I fear will save us. But if a few more bluejackets can reach us, and the Maxim gun, we can defy these Arab fiends, and give a good account of them."
After dinner, Guilford and the surgeon went towards the spot where, under a canopy of green boughs, the latter had placed his wounded men.
They found Kep wandering about busy enough in his own way, soothing and sympathising with the patients, administering a drop of water or wine to one, and an orange or lime to another; but shedding comfort in every place where the light from the hurricane lamp he carried fell.
However small this boy's capabilities as a surgeon or physician might be, he made a very excellent nurse.
Guilford kindly took the first watch with the wounded men, so that the doctor might have a few hours' sleep, and Kep as well.
McTavish awoke quite refreshed about four o'clock, and took watch himself.
"I have a mind to sit with you a short time," said Guilford, and down they both sat, after the doctor had taken a turn or two among the men. Meanwhile the moon had risen and was shedding her silvery light all over camp and barracoon, beautifying and spiritualising everything.
They had hidden the hurricane lamp behind a bush, and were talking low to each other, as they sat beneath a banana tree.
Suddenly McTavish clutched Guilford by the shoulder.
"Hush!" he whispered. "Did you not hear a sound as of advancing footsteps?"
They had both drawn their revolvers and sat waiting, fearfully, hardly daring to draw breath.
A moment after something fell with a dull thud almost at their feet.
McTavish lit a match and held it above his head.
Judge of the feeling of horror that took possession of them now.
There, within a yard of them, lay poor Fisher's head.
More accustomed to seeing fearsome sights than his friend Guilford, the doctor called to him to make all speed and alarm the sentries, to cut off if possible the retreating enemy. Then he took up the head. Superstitious themselves to a degree, it is no uncommon thing for an Arab foe to endeavour to strike a strange terror into the hearts of their enemies by such ghoulish tricks as this. But it had certainly failed in its object for once.