hommed ben Hamza when we reached
the corner.

Grim turned and faced us with folded arms, leaning his back
against the parapet.

Ben Hamza continued: "You are a very prince of dare-devils! One
word from me--one little word, and they would fling you down into
the moat for the vultures to feed on!"

"I remember a time," Grim answered, "when a word from me saved
you from hanging."

"True, father of good fortune! But a man must laugh. I
will hold my tongue in El-Kerak like a tomb that has not
been plundered!"

"You'd better! You've work to do. Where are your men?"

"All where I can find them."

"Good. You'll get turned out of the mejlis presently. Look down
into the moat now."

We all peered over. The lower ramp of the wall sloped steeply,
but all the way up the sharp southwest corner the stones were
broken out, and a goat, or a very active man could find foothold.

"Could you climb that?"

"Surely. Remember, Jimgrim, when I climbed the wall of El-Kudz
(Jerusalem) to escape from the police!"

"Bring your men into the moat between dark and moonrise. Have a
long rope with you--a good one. You and two men climb up here
and hide. The remainder wait below. Oh, yes; and bring a wheat
sack--a new, strong one. You may have to wait for several hours.
When you see me, take your cue from me; but whatever happens, no
murder! You understand? Nobody's to be killed."

Ben Hamza grinned and nodded. He seemed to be one of those good-
natured rogues who ask nothing better than the sheer sport of
lawless hero-worship. He would have made a perfect chief of
staff for any brigand, provided the brigand took lots of chances.

"You'll be killed, if anybody finds you up here after dark! You
realize that?"

"Trust me."

Grim nodded. He was good at trusting people, when he had to, and
when the selection was his own.

"Affairs seem to be drifting nicely," he said, turning to me.
"It's best not to let Anazeh know who I am just yet, if that can
be helped. But if you must, when the time comes, you'll have to
tell him. Do keep him sober. After the evening prayer there'll
be a banquet; if he gets drunk we're done for. I'm going to
make you out an awful leper, if you don't mind. They may yell
for your hide and feathers before I've finished, but Anazeh will
protect you. If he leaves the hall in a huff, don't make any
bones about going with him. Let him ride out of town and wait
for me about two miles down