THE WAR MARE IN THE DESERT 



the top of a small knoll. I was sore and tired 



for I had not ridden for so long in years and 



the heat must have been telling somehow on 



my expression, for Akmet Haffez yelled to me 



to cheer up and pointing on ahead shouted: 



"Anezeh!" I looked, but could see nothing. 



After a while, through the haze I noticed 



that the plain was covered with blackish tents 



and camels. And then the whole plain seemed 



to be covered with camels. In the distance 



they looked like row after row of tea-kettles. 



Wadduda was prancing. She had seen her 



tribe first. Tired as I was, it was a thrilling 



sight. It was the realization, at last, of a wish 



that I had cherished since a small boy, and my 



emotions got the best of me. We could see 



horsemen racing here and there. They were 



preparing to greet us and were getting into 



holiday garb. 



Frankly it was too much for me. I tried to 

 tell Akmet Haffez through the interpreter 

 what I felt and to thank him for what he had 

 done, but I am afraid I made a mess of it. 

 That kindly old man saw my emotion and 

 replied with all the native courtesy of the 

 desert combined with the manner of the true 

 gentleman. It was an honor to him, he said, 



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