There was something
for him, too, in that which held infatuated the minds of so many
millions.
A moment later Kaid and he faced each other again. "Effendina," he said,
"thou wilt not desert our work now?"
"Money--for this expedition? Thou hast it?" Kaid asked ironically.
"I have but little money, and it must go to rebuild the mills, Effendina.
I must have it of thee."
"Let them remain in their ashes."
"But thousands will have no work."
"They had work before they were built, they will have work now they are
gone."
"Effendina, I stayed in Egypt at thy request. The work is thy work. Wilt
thou desert it?"
"The West lured me--by things that seemed. Now I know things as they
are."
"They will lure thee again to-morrow," said David firmly, but with a
weight on his spirit. His eyes sought and held Kaid's. "It is too late to
go back; we must go forward or we shall lose the Soudan, and a Mahdi and
his men will be in Cairo in ten years."
For an instant Kaid was startled. The old look of energy and purpose
leaped up into his eye; but it faded quickly again.
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