The Lion of Petra

Room for the

o lead the way through any set of circumstances, and the only wise course for a committee is to make that ma

he Sikh said nothing, but Ali Baba was conscious of the weight that years should give to his o

of money, without which you will refuse to intercede with the government on his behalf for their return. Thus every one will be satisfied except the Lion, who will be too poor for a lon

ink, Narayan Si

out the enemy's heart. If we fail we are but a lost javelin-an officer, a sepoy, a civilian and a handful of thieves-there are plenty more! If w

tee, growing less and less parliamentary as their views diverged. Ali Baba seemed to consider it relevant to call Narayan Singh a drunkard, and the Sikh considered it his dut

ome in a certain way-as long as you observed the whole effect and did not study details-there was a look of cold experience about her brown eyes that chilled you. Of course, she wa

at I had never done, or seen done, although many have attempted it and failed

beside Grim and the Sikh and Ali Baba glaring daggers at each other on either hand. The early sun seemed to edge eve

magine she had been doin

y chance the American named James Grim, who

uster; and we wondered why he should have gone to all that trouble to disguise himself, only to conf

ing words. No man could ever get your reputation without

ce as merciless as s

" he answered, "

one, if you can

r best," he

ty seconds, and seemed to make up her

l begin by being sensible.

does impress you as a keen business man. But there are modi

aightforward and tell

circums

o help them exploit this country, that's what you would ask. After you k

ing to talk sense,"

rica. You've got no business here. It's different in my case. I'm married to Ali Higg. I've thrown in my lot with these people.

ile. "I'll try to disillusion you to begin with. Per

them make good. But I can see as far through a stone wall as any blind horse can, and I know-better maybe than you do, Jael-that all they'll

p his wives?" she retorted. "Ali Higg is a patriot. He's against

ependent Arab country. Where is it? Have you seen any of

t Arabs fought for in the war, and I'm hi

ng his worst, no

ity among these tr

with his method, but that's the Arab's business; if being crucified and shot for differences of opinion suits them, why, no doubt Ali Higg'

should say or not

m Arabia, you're from the Balkans, I'm from th

foreigners who will d

rench or I

d he knows how to control Arabs just as the Prophet

see here, Jael, I'm just as set on doing my bit in the world as Ali Higg is. Maybe I'm a mite mor

r it won't bear arguing, and I'm not trying to convert you. But you're in my power, and though I sure would hate to inconveni

she exclaime

ere yet. There never will be one if I can prevent it. I'm here to keep a foreign army from trespassing across the Jordan, it being my cra

was rather a hard laugh

r's, but your voice r

nly another of th

sides two respectable men are thieves from El-Kalil. That little army of Ali Higg's lies between me and the border, and I'm no kind of a darn-fool optimist

he sets a value on you. Since he sends you out in charge of a raid on El-Maan I guess he sets a high value on you. That's as goo

e said, and s

o say it. I might have hanged most of them once, but I never knew it do much good to a man

hey'd deport you, and you'd be an outcast with tabs kept on you, and I've seen your sort come to a bad end. I never liked to see it. I

As the wife of a polygamist she knew exactly what he meant about winning respect. Her sort en

or you wouldn't suggest friendship with me. Can you imagine me

he mighty likely would. But that 'ud be the end of Ali Higg's prospects, for as sure as my name's Grim the British would smash him to avenge me, and you know it! If

he answered. "I shall just d

put me to the necessity of searching you; you've too much pride for that. So suppose you pass me Ali

hat slip of boasting to Narayan Singh and me about the seal, but there was nothing else for it

ound all that money in the Bank of Egypt-although I'm free to

d with a bitter little laugh. "I

asn't the least offense in it, althou

woman's," he said, "before expecting to be trust

gg catches you

e. But you shall have it back, and the mon

There came a time, months later, when she understood Grim's peculiar alt

" she said. "N

begin with. Is his temper uneven? Is there an

ed man I know," she laughe

e must have counted on your brains exclusively to keep him on top; and now you

no

most fanatical Moslems do that. But an Indian hakim? Now, many an Indian hakim knows how

odded

hen I must, but I'll always take a heap of trouble to find a white man's way of accomplishing the same purpose. I can act mean toward you-sheer p

gain, and not

r camp. You're so like Ali Higg in certain lights and in some of your gestures, and so unlike him

was studying him from a new angle-a thoughtf

to spoil the other's game. There are men in this camp who'll tell you that I keep my word. I'm willing to pledge it not to hurt you or Ali Higg,

ed him-ready to consider him fool o

ll you've got to trade with. And I'll watch you just about twice as

at; and after you've found how it pays to play straight with me you're

ged expression, like a woman buyer's who has deci

d. "Of course, you're a liar, like all m

ch English, but there are certain words-such as liar, cheat, swine, thief, and the list of oath

s own ends! A keeper of secrets! An upsetter of plans! But he is no liar, and I will not hear him called one

ks, and even Jael Higg did not offer to rebuke him for the interr

we stand. Are you and

no

fortune," she said, "if you'll come the whol

head and smil

out to keep Ali Higg

or two of you," sh

uess

whether she was setting a trap for us or really in earnest about w

u? Hm! Respectability is a mask-often a safe mask, often an offensive o

-although, of course, they're respectable people and give the poison by mistake! Now if

" said Grim, "

, unless you tell h

in your power as I am. Bu

n't,

such things. That haughty attitude is British, not American; you've been defiled by co

r do with him will be failure compared to what I could make of you, James Grim. You look eno

humor, but a blind man could

afraid to admit you'd a hand in it. But you needn't fear. You can send your hakim uninstructed. He's an Indian, isn't he? Well

hook h

sense. You've got to make shift with Ali Higg `as is'. If you don't like it say so now and I'll tell off three

mitation pewter shucks about any man's ambition, or any woman's past. My job in the world is to do what I'm able to do,

l," she said, "and yo

artners! Very w

n envelop, sheet of pape

ews of a British force coming over the border, and that he must stay at that oasis in rea

to leave the oasis. Tell him that secrecy as to his present whereabouts is the all-important point. For that reason strangers m

true about a British

ying to tra

y're safe. You write, and I

l henchman. But there was no way of getting out of it except by blunt refusal, involving the threatened esco

, give him the fastest camel, and let him ride with that to

sons have wings

laughed Grim. "It is a simple ma

that in the desert all men are enemie

is pass. He must take

brains-age-influence-experience. Nay! If any is to take that letter, let me do it. I am old, and they hesitate to kill an ol

ns of mine might take offense at an insult, or recognize a blood e

ped him o

go. Take one son with you

in his mind for several minut

, retaining the other as hostage; for it is the way of the devil to put suspicion in men's minds. Two men would do

hy

exchange for my weary beast. I shall make a great fuss about the beast they provide, rejecting this and that one, thus causing them to

ba set off, mounted on the meanest of the baggage beasts, whose hump was getti

rest and wait for evening, and I think Jael Higg slept, but I don't know, for

red without ceremony, slipping through the low opening with the silent ease that comes naturally to the Badawi.

serious expression of her face that he recognized as quickly as I did. All her imperious attitude was gone. She did not look ex

man did was calculated and deliberate; and the more she seemed

eak first. Her eyes sought mine, and then the medicine-chest. Then

e poison in that box that would reach down to

eed it all for the

she said; and for a moment I sus

" I told her. "The world hold

d her white teeth

iyan!* Yet little comes to the woman who neglects

ptuous form of address that Arabs

lways ready with a smile for what I don't approve; but Narayan Singh interrupted in

to be poisoned

your business," s

poisoned is an enemy of ours, well and good; you shall have it and we shall be gainer

f Jimgrim. Already he takes counsel with her; did he and she not

then? For

tell? You swear it? Then it is for the Lion of Petra. Thus I shall win the love of

simply! But remember, Ayisha, you must slay me in turn if you hope to have Jimgrim for husband. By m

alous piece of

first, and we shal

er of mine, who has a vein of caution, since he lacks the zeal of l

," she insisted. "Stu

s belly i

ough his flesh like fl

ad watched her out of earshot, he

you go and tell our Jimgrim what has passed. Give her physic that will purge the Lion of Pet