ep overboard to
wade ashore without remembering to untie its legs; it was
almost drowned before it occurred to any one to rescue it.
Perhaps it was dead. I don't know. Anyhow, one fellow prayed
in a hurry while his companion cut the sheep's throat to make
it lawful meat.

"God is good," old Anazeh remarked to me, "and blessed be His
Prophet, who forbade us faithful, even though we hunger, to
defile ourselves with the flesh of creatures whose blood did not
flow from the knife of the slayer."

After that they all prayed, going first into the oily-feeling,
asphaltic water for the ceremonial washing. They were quite
particular about it. Then they spread prayer-mats, facing Mecca.
Every single cut-throat had brought along his prayer-mat, and had
treasured it as carefully as his rifle.

Ahmed and I sat on a rock and watched them. Ahmed pretended he
wanted to pray, too. To impress me, he said he was a very devout
Christian and that nothing should prevent the practice of his
religion. But he was very quick to take my advice not to start
anything that might bring on a breach of the peace. Old Anazeh's
short preliminary sermon to his followers, about the need of
always keeping God in mind, was not addressed to us.

Prayers finished, they proceeded to cut up and cook the sheep.
Ahmed and I subdued the voice of conscience without noticeable
effort and ate our share of the stolen goods. Ahmed said that,
seeing how little was left for him when the rest had all been
served, he sinned only in small degree, but that my share, as an
honoured guest, was huge, and the sin proportionate. So I gave
him some of my meat, and he ate it, and we were equally sinful--
one more bond cementing an "eternal friendship!"

We had hardly finished eating when an Arab on a gray horse came
riding furiously down a ravine that looked like a dry water-
course. He was brought up all-standing fifty yards away. Every
man in the party leveled a rifle at him. Anazeh beckoned me to
come and get behind him for protection. He was very angry when I
refused. He cursed the language and religion of whatever fool
had taught me manners in a land where pigs are lawful food.
However, after they had all had a good look at the horseman they
let him draw near, and there followed a noisy conference, the man
on the horse calling on Allah repeatedly with emphasis, and
Anazeh and his followers all doing the same thing, but from an
opposing viewpoint. I pers