at is their affair. It is Allah's way to make blind those who
it is written are to be destroyed."

"Nay, Lion of Petra, give a man to go with us--one whom they will
know and recognize. Then all shall be well."

Have I ever said that Grim is a genius? He can take longer
chances in a crisis with a more unerring aim than any man I ever
knew. Surely he took one then.

"Nay," he laughed. "I will send them a woman. Let us see who will
dare gainsay the woman."

That was simply supreme genius. It even pleased Narayan Singh,
since the tables were turned on Ayisha. The only reason she could
possibly have had for telling these men that Grim was Ali Higg
was to score off him, either by capturing him for herself, or in
the alternative by ruining him for rejecting her advances. It was
not clear yet which of the two she hoped to accomplish; perhaps,
little savage that she was, she would have been content with
either alternative and had simply chosen to force the issue.

At any rate Grim had passed the buck back to her. He sent me over
to the rock to fetch her, and I found her smiling serenely, like
the Sphinx, only with more than a modicum of added mischief.

"Woman, the Lion of Petra summons you," said I.

She laughed at that as if the world were at her feet--got up, and
stretched herself, and yawned like a lazy cat that sees the milk
being set down in a saucer--straightened her dress, and nodded
knowingly to her four men. She had evidently reached an
understanding with them.

"I hasten to do my lord's bidding," she answered, and followed
me back.

It calls for all your presence of mind to remember to walk in
front of a woman who is addressed as often as not as princess;
but if I had walked behind her they would have suspected me at
once of being no true Moslem.

I returned and stood behind Grim, and she stood in front of him,
so that I was able to see her face. It was as good as a show to
see her swallow back surprise and wonder at him open-eyed, as he
played the part she had foisted on him and loaded her with
the responsibility.

"Go with these men, Ayisha, and tell those swine at El-Maan that
I say the train shall pass unharmed as far as this point.
Moreover, say that none may trespass. What shall take place here
is my affair. The range of my rifle is the measure of the line
across which none may come.

"Stay with them, Ayisha, until the train leaves El-Maan. Then you
may leave your camel and return hither on the