A moment later she could hear the oars being first elevated, then shipped, and she guessed that ropes had been let down the side of the ship to which the crew of the Caïque would cling so as to steady their boat.

There would be a rope ladder which Lord Castleford must climb up to go aboard.

She heard his voice, calm and authoritative, say to the Commander of the Caïque.

“Thank you for bringing me here.”

He spoke in Turkish and the man replied,

“It has been an honour, Your Excellency. May we wish you a safe journey?”

“Thank you,” Lord Castleford replied.

Yamina was sure that he had his foot on the bottom rung of the rope ladder when suddenly with a fear that felt like the thrust of a knife, she thought that he must have forgotten about his present and she would be left behind.

Then, as she held her breath and started to will him wildly not to forget, she heard him say,

“Be careful how that trunk is lifted aboard. It may contain something that is breakable”

“Of course, Your Excellency!”

Yamina felt herself being lifted from the deck. Ropes must have been attached to the trunk for now she was being hauled up the side, the trunk banging occasionally against the ship as it rocked on the waves.

There was a thump as she was set down on deck.

“Welcome aboard, my Lord!” she heard an English voice say.

Then, before Lord Castleford could reply, the man went on,

“Your other luggage has already been taken by your valet to your cabin, my Lord. Would you wish this trunk you have brought with you to be placed in the hold?”

There was a moment’s pause, almost as if Lord Castleford was deciding what he would say.

Then he answered,

“No! Have it taken to my cabin.”

“Very good, my Lord, and now, if you will come this way, the Captain is waiting to receive you.”

Yamina realised that again she had been holding her breath and now it escaped her lips with a hissing sound.

It did not matter, she thought, even if someone heard her!

Nothing mattered!

She had escaped from the harem!

She need no longer be afraid of the Black Eunuch.

The relief made her feel faint as she whispered to herself,

‘Thank you – God! Thank – you!”

Chapter Five

“I hope you will be comfortable, my Lord.”

Lord Castleford looked round the single cabin that he had been allotted.

The Captain had explained with many apologies that it had been impossible to give him two as the ship was so crowded that every available cabin had three or four men in it.

He had given Lord Castleford instead what had been the sitting room of the most expensive and luxurious suite when The Himalaya had been in ordinary passenger service.