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Al-Khatimah

brow than aught of human speech.

His little hand raised above his head seems to point to a star which could be seen through an opening in the canvas. Was it his star⁠—the star that he saw in the sand-grave⁠—the star that is calling to him?⁠—

But let us resume our narration.

A fortnight after Mrs. Gotfry’s departure Shakib leaves the camp to live in Cairo. He is now become poet-laureate to one of the big pashas.

Khalid is left alone with Najma and Najib.

And one day, when they are playing a game of “donkey,”⁠—Khalid carried Najib on his back, ran on all four around the tent, and Najma was the donkey-driver⁠—the child of a sudden utters a shriek and falls on the sand.

He is in convulsions; and after the relaxation, lo, his right hand is palsied, his mouth awry, and his eyes asquint. Khalid finds a young doctor at al-Hayat,

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