was piled with all imaginable things to eat, from
cakes and fruit to whole sheep roasted and seethed in camel's
milk and honey. There were no less than six sheep placed at
intervals along the "table," with mountains of rice, scow-loads
of apricots cooked in various ways, and a good sized flock of
chickens spitted and smeared with peppery sauce. At a guess, I
should say there were several pounds of meat, about two chickens,
and a peck of rice per man, with apricots and raisins added; but
they faced the prospect like heroes.

Perhaps what helped them face it was the sight of sundry bottles
bearing labels more familiar in the West. Abdul Ali of Damascus,
licking his lips like a cat that smells canary, took his place on
a cushion up near the window again on the right of Ali Shah al
Khassib, who was only the nominal host. Abdul Ali left no doubt
in anybody's mind as to who was paying for the feast. It was he
who gave orders to the servants in a bullying tone of voice; he
who begged every one be seated.

Anazeh looked at the bottles of brandy--looked at me--and prayed
under his breath; or, at any rate, it looked and sounded like a
prayer. He may have been swearing. He and I were not very far
from the door; the seats near the head of the table had all been
taken. I sat down at once, so as not to be conspicuous, but
Anazeh remained standing so long that at last Abdul Ali called to
him to sit down and eat his fill, using the offensively
magnanimous tone of voice that some men can achieve without an
effort. I think Anazeh had been waiting for just that opening.

"I have twenty men outside," he announced. "Shall I eat, and
not they?"

"This is a feast for notables," said Abdul Ali.

"A little bread with my own men is better than meat and drink at
a traitor's table," Anazeh answered. "Wallahi! (By God!) I go to
eat with honest men!" He laid a hand on my head. "Ye have said
this effendi must stay in the castle. Well and good. Whoever
harms him or offers him indignity shall answer to me and my men
for it!" He bowed to me like a king taking leave of his court.
"Lailtak sa'idi. Allah yifazak, effendi!" (Good night. God keep
you, effendi!) With that he stalked out, and the door slammed
shut behind him. Everybody, including Abdul Ali, laughed.

The banquet was a boresome business--an interminable competition
to see who could eat and drink the most. With my interpreter
gone, and everybody else too busy guz