and closed in knee-
to-knee, they would have liked to spoil Abdul Ali's afternoon by
riding through his procession and breaking its formation. But
Anazeh had his mind set, and they seemed to know better than to
try to change it for him. We waited until noises in the street
died down, and then Ahmed was sent to report on developments.

"Abdul Ali has gone into the mejlis and the doors are closed," he
announced five minutes later. That seemed to suit Anazeh
perfectly, for his eyes lit up with satisfaction. Evidently
being excluded from the council was his meat and drink. He gave
no order, but rode forward and his men followed as a snake's tail
follows its head, four abreast, each man holding his rifle as
best suited him; that gave them a much more warlike appearance
than if they had imitated the western model of exact conformity.

We rode down-street toward the castle at a walk, between very
interested spectators who knew enough to make way without being
told. And at the castle gate we were challenged by a man on
foot, who commanded about twice our number of armed guards.

"The hour is passed," he announced. "The order is to admit no
late-comers."

"Who gives orders to me?" Anazeh retorted.

"It was agreed by all the notables."

"I did not agree. Wallah! Thou dog of a devil's dung-heap, say
you I am not a notable?"

"Nevertheless--"

"Open that gate!"

They opened it. Two of the men began to do it even before their
chief gave the reluctant order. Anazeh started to ride through
with his men crowding behind. But that, it seemed, was
altogether too much liberty to take with the arrangements.
Shouting all together, the gate-guards surged in to take hold of
bridles and force Anazeh's dependents back. Teeth and eyes
flashed. It looked like the makings of a red-hot fight.

"No retainers allowed within the gate! Principals only!" roared
the captain of the guard, in Arabic that sounded like explosions
of boiling oil.

Anazeh, Mahommed ben Hamza and I were already within the
courtyard. Four of Anazeh's followers made their way, through
after us before any one could prevent them. At that moment there
came a tremendous clattering of hoofs and the crowd outside the
gate scattered this and that way in front of about a hundred of
the other chiefs' dependents, who had dutifully stayed outside
and had sought shade some little distance off.

Whether the sudden disturbance rattled him, or whether he
sup