."

Ben Hamza, knee-deep in the brook, laughed aloud as he eyed the
money. He made a gesture so good-humoured, so full of
resignation and regret and broad philosophy that you would have
liked the fellow even if he hadn't saved your life.

"Deal with those two first!" he grinned. "I would have taken
your money long ago, but that I know Jimgrim! He would have made
me give it up again."

"Jimgrim!" said Abdul Ali. "Jimgrim? Are you Major James Grim?
A good thing for you I did not know that, when I had you in my
power in the castle!"

Grim laughed. "Are we all set? Let's go."

We hurried all the faster now because our legs were wet. The
night air on those Moab heights is chilly at any season.
Perhaps, too, we were trying to leave behind us the moat-stench
that the water had merely reduced, not washed away. A quarter of
a mile before we reached the place appointed we knew that Anazeh
had not failed to keep his tryst. Away up above us, beside the
tomb, like an ancient bearded ghost, Anazeh stood motionless,
silent, conning the track we should come by--a grand old savage
keeping faith against his neighbours for the sake of friendship.

He did not challenge when he heard us. He took aim. He held his
aim until Grim called to him. When our goat track joined the
main road he was there awaiting us, standing like a sentinel in
the shadow of a fanged rock. And there, if, Abdul Ali of
Damascus could have had his way, there would have been a fresh
debate. He did not let ten seconds pass before he had offered
Anazeh all the money he had with him to lend him a horse and let
him go. Anazeh waived aside the offer.

"You shall have as much more money as you wish!" the Damascene
insisted. "Let me get to my house, and a messenger shall take
the money to you. Or come and get it."

All the answer Anazeh gave him was a curt laugh--one bark like
a Fox's.

"Where are all the horses?" Grim demanded. I could only see five
of six.

"I wait for them."

"Man, we can't wait!"

"Jimgrim!" said the old sheikh, with a glint of something between
malice and amusement in his eyes, "I knew you in the mejlis when
you watched me read that letter! One word from me and--" He
made a click between his teeth suggestive of swift death. "I let
you play your game. But now I play my game, Allah willing. I
have waited for you. Wait thou for me!"

"Why? What is it?"

Anazeh beckoned us and turned away. We followed him, Grim a