midnight
she repeated sharply . She took no notice of his going and did not look back to see what orders he gave the men . She glanced at her watch again . Perhaps it was growing late , perhaps the camp was a longer ride than she had thought ; but Mustafa Ali must learn his lesson if they rode till midnight to reach the oasis . She pushed her obstinate chin out further and then smiled again suddenly . She hoped that the night would fall before they reached their destination . There had been one or two moonlight riding picnics out from Biskra , and the glamour of the desert nights had gone to Diana 's head .