The Kheddah 131 



them, they pressed on in the vain hope of 

 escaping from the tyranny of man. And so 

 it was that when darkness fell and the trail 

 became invisible, the three men halted to pass 

 the night in the forest. They had but a rough 

 blanket apiece to protect them from dew and 

 frost, a few unleavened cakes and a little 

 parched pulse to satisfy their hunger, and soon 

 they lay by the camp fire to await the dawn 

 of another day. There were few sounds in 

 the forest save the ceaseless drip from the 

 trees, and occasionally 

 the rustling of passing 

 breezes. From time to 

 time nightjars passed, 



sounding monotonous notes as of sonorous 

 blows upon firm ice, or little owlets sat on 

 the branches above uttering curious cries 

 reminiscent of water slowly dropping from a 

 height. The hours passed slowly. From time 

 to time one of the men rose and replenished the 

 fire and drew a few whiffs of smoke from the 

 gurgling hookah. But at last there were signs 

 of returning day. The eastern sky was lit 



