CHAPTER XII 



THE MEETING ^VITH HASHEM BEY, THE GREAT 

 SHEIKH OF THE DESERT. 



With that dog story off my mind (I simply 

 had to tell it), the narrative of the trip may 

 be resumed. We left the Circassian village at 

 three in the afternoon and were back at our 

 tent at five in the morning. For us the ride 

 was tiresome, but the horses were as fresh as 

 ever. This wonderful endurance of the 

 Anezeh horses, although we expected much, 

 was a constant surprise. They never seemed 

 to tire and I shall relate soon a remarkable in- 

 stance of their strength and stamina. 



The event of importance to which we were 

 now looking forward was the meeting with 

 Hashem Bey, the Sheikh of Sheikhs of the 

 desert. No sooner indeed had we arrived at 

 our tents than we were informed that the 

 ruler of the Anezeh had returned with a large 

 number of his warriors to see us, and so after 



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