The Lion of Petra

od, But Tie

n't mean by that that because a man has told the truth twice he won't lie on the third and fourth occasion; for the East is like the West in that respect, and usually seeks to turn its virtue into capital.

mels; it was true. You did not need to be a camel expert to know those great long-legged Syrian beasts for winners. They looked like the first pick of a whole country-s

ted to pay for th

rim. What could we do? We took our money and bought thes

the old rogue's

th your predatory instincts would pay a lawyer by th

l scoundrels. May Allah grind their bones! No h

moist; the gear was all in good shape, none new, but all well-tested; and there was food enough in double sacks for twenty men for a month. Mujrim, Al

line of fifteen other sons and grandsons, all

much more expressive word than that, because the East is

woman named Ayisha-a Badawi (Bedouin)-who has lately

u know that

em for goods that could not be obtained here. I want to speak with her. Has any of your"-he smiled at the l

tly assumed an expression of far-awa

ou go fetch her to the governorate. You may tell her she's not in t

agging a woman through th

olice. I don't want to put her to indignity, yo

can prove it. I have heard it said she has a devil. `Trust in God, but tie your cam

--

bute all their favo

are in the book or,

--

get Captain de Crespig

you to appeal to the governor. Taib.

clamation of

up to the governorate

tonight a

You realized without a word said that the uniform would be discarded presently. He looked me up and down as the quartermaster eyes a new recruit, and nodded in that exasperating way that makes you feel as if you had been ticketed and numbered. If Grim had n

as an ascetic-looking Indian Moslem, with the aid of a white turban wound over a cone-shaped cap, great horn-rimme

whatever his nationality; it was hotter than Tophet, but, as the Arabs say, what keeps the heat in will also keep it out. It gives

sahib," said Narayan Singh. "When a man know

s and their friends stampeded, and Narayan Singh watched while I posed in front of it. Before many minutes, without any deliberately conscious effort on my part, gesture a

tograph to carry with you, because a man forgets his own appearance where there are no mirrors and none others r

his eyebrows dark, put on the clothes, and cease to resemble anything on earth except a desert-born Arab. I don't know how long he was learni

of not being pulled apart between four camels, or pushed over a precipice, is to look like darwaish. Have Narayan Singh s

"No matter how many mistakes now, Sahib!" grinned the Sikh. "None but a crazy Moslem would trave

rim did to me was to t

to make shift with a chewed stick, and pick your teeth between times with a dagger the way the

vernor; but it couldn't be done. I don't know yet what the sensations are of, say, a bachelor of arts of Lahore University who has to take orders from a British subaltern. I expect you h

he desert women being hags, but every one of them was pure fiction to me from that minute. If all the rest were really what men said of them, t

row of owls, she studying us in return, quite unabashed. The Badawi don't wear veils, an

lenge and yet seemed to arm her against impertinence, not very dark, except for her long eyelashes-I have seen

down to the outward thrust of a shapely bare foot in an upturned Turkish slipper. Her clothing was linen, not black cotton that Bedouin women usually wear, and much of it

d without reluctance, sparing no consideration for the weak-rather looking for weakness to take advantage of it. They were wise-dark, deadly wi

an?" asked de Cresp

me all this

avels the de

how you g

caravan that carried wheat-the wife of

a distinct word for everything, and for every phase of every

friends

els with

, I mean, before y

N

are not fr

said

ught y

yours, khawaja." * [*

me where yo

eyond E

and and her shoulder that sug

place beyo

e did it not in self-defense

e his hole is! My pe

me, at any rate, wha

il." [

ole suk talks of me.

t people don't use as a rule in tents out in the desert-silk stockings, for instance, and a phonograph with

y n

ooks in Frenc

e first time she had not

even read

d not

are meant for some one else?

"May I not buy what I

ritish officer by storming at him. De Crespigny smiled

the wife of Ali Higg, an

ely whence I come,

ou a s

ll

wives has

hould

u are one of his wi

claim Your Hon

t de Crespigny went to the sideboard for the silver box

t law of the desert that man or woman claiming protection can no longer be treat

m. And young de Crespigny was ruler of the most unruly city in the Near East because he understood better than most

I protect you you must answer qu

onor's promise

you Ali Hi

is seco

e been sent to make pu

no

to convey all these

difficult now that

s prot

and to the eastward as far as the shore of

ooner or later there will be a caravan across the desert to

e this, Princess Ayisha: how came Ali Higg to trust you, a

not m

the

And he holds their wives a

dmit it's

that a woman should be

s a name-a reputation!

but four. The oth

're goin

" [If God i

alternative would have

the two you sent there have made their purchases. I heard over the telephone that they are on their way her

ten for one. If an exchange were not made promp

my was in a position just then to impose its will on Ali Higg, so certainly de Crespigny was not; and if yo

't dream of that," he assured her. "Now, is there anythi

ing e

or so. Would you be ready

I can join

evening, fo

provi

settle

ed towa

pilgrimage to Mecca. He is my honored friend. He starts tonight with a cara

s made the pilgrim

xcitement, followed by a look of baffling wisdom, as much as to say she knew something and

has he at Pet

et Grim answer

th the letter. You may have a place in my caravan-provided you have camels, provisions, and a litter," he added; for t

see the

marked across the top in large letters "On His Majesty's Service," but ad

or my safety if he has to destroy ar

Allah turn my face cold if Sheikh Ali Higg sha

caravan?" she asked

the caravan, according to the custom-the

face, Grim turned down that proposal desert-fa

more, if I will accept a price for this.

en shall look for camels. I

ed the Sphinx, and rode down-street toward the ancient city on a bi

right?" aske

land one of these days, 'Crep. Good job I ha