The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

A Treacherous Friend. 261
sign of the fallen man could be seen. A strong breeze was
blowing, and the sand was being constantly shifted thereb}-.
Thev' were not, therefore, surprised that on the spot where
Dillon said his friend had fallen, no traces of blood or of a
struggle could be seen. A few of the enemy's horsemen
were observed in the distance galloping back towards their
main body, and Dillon suggested the possibility of the
Arabs ha\-ing carried the body away, in order to despoil it
the more securely of arms, accoutrements, and uniform.
That was accepted as the true solution of the mystery, and
the men returned to camp.
The greater ]:)art of the troops stood to their arms
during the night, expecting an attack, but none was made,
and in the morning the\- resumed their march northwards.
Arthur Bothwell's death was duly reported to the home
authorities, and the manner of it. He had been promoted
to a captainc}- while in Kg)'pt, and Dillon was, soon after
his death, raised to that rank, he being next in seniorit}'.
On arriving at Alexandria, Dillon, with his own detach-
ment, returned to England. He very soon afterwards
obtained lea\e of absence, and set out for Scotland, where
he arrived in due course. His object in going to Scotland
was to seek out Mary Murray, and having secured apartments
in the neighbouring village, he took an early oppor-
tunity of calling upon her. As Miss Murray had read the
official account of Arthur's death in the newspapers, it gave
her a mournful satisfaction to meet Dillon, whose name was
necessarih" mixed up with the report of her lover's death,
Mary had much to ask concerning the sad affair, and
Dillon had much to tell, for he took special care not only
to speak of Arthur's death, but also of his gallant bearing
whenever they got into action, and particularly of the
friendship which existed between them. Altogether, he
spoke of Arthur in such glowing terms that Mary hence-
forward welcomed him to her home as a valued friend
whenever he chose to make a call.