MY QUEST OF THE ARAB HORSE 



go as a guard, but I suggested that there was 

 no reason for a guard when Akmet Haffez was 

 with us ; his presence was more than an army. 

 The suggestion made an instant hit and when 

 I asked the reason Haffez explained that the 

 Bedouins had a poor opinion of such Euro- 

 peans as they had seen because they always 

 came to the desert surrounded by soldiers. 

 The Bedouins believed that all Europeans 

 were cowards. So, save for the rifle which I 

 was carrying to present to Hashem Bey, we 

 were without arms. Several camels with tents 

 and provisions, had gone on with cooks and 

 extra camel men. It was a gala occasion. 

 Akmet Haffez had not been outside of Aleppo 

 for thirty years and, as he rode by my side, like 

 a fine old Indian chief, his followers who lined 

 the streets, were full of enthusiasm. It was a 

 great evening. Still one thing bothered me. 

 I had not yet made friends with my mare. She 

 fretted and was nervous. I was on her back 

 without the flowing robes usually worn by the 

 riders she was used to. Jack and Arthur had 

 donned Arab costume, but at the last moment 

 I could not give up my flannel shirt and my 

 comfortable ragged coat and trousers. So I 



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