CH. XX.] A Threatened Attack. 1 1 5 



arrived, begging him to return there at once, as a 

 ghazii from the Eodla had been seen and an attack 

 might be expected. At first we thought it niiglit 

 be one of those little dramatic incidents arrani>-(.'d 

 beforehand when negotiations are going on, either 

 to enforce an argument, or to interrupt it at a con- 

 venient moment. The more so as Beteyen did not 

 at once take notice of t^lie summons. It was not till 

 several men had ridden up hurriedly to his tent, and 

 dismounting, stuck their spears in the ground, and 

 shouted impatiently to him to come, that he rose 

 with a sigh, as if unwillingly, to face the necessity 

 of action. He is, in fact, a poor creature, and it is 

 easy to see that his people have no great respect for 

 him. They spoke to him now in a peremptory tone 

 one would not expect to hear used towards a shcykh, 

 and still he dawdled, while Meshur, at the first word 

 of fighting, had jumped to his feet and was gone. 

 We did not follow Beteyen, not wishing to be in the 

 way Avhile important matters v/ere being discussed, 

 but we could see a great coming and going about 

 the Sheykh's tent, and presently IMohammed Dukhi 

 came to wish us good-bye, l^efore going to look after 

 his own people. The little speech he made, was a 

 model of Oriental politeness. He begged us not to 

 forcret him, and asked Wilfrid to be his vakil, nxissl, 

 or representative, with me to remind me of him, but 

 that, if I required any service of him at any time, 

 then I should require no wassi, but had only to give 



mv orders Mohammed Dukhi, though too artificial 



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