CH. XX.] A Panic and Retreat. 



119 



dawn Avlien every tent was struck, and a precipitate 

 retreat commenced across the hills. AVe sent Mo- 

 hammed to the Sheykh's tent, to ask what was going 

 to be done, and all the answer was that he must 

 join Jedaan, who was somewhere " out there " to the 

 north. The Goniussa were in such a huny that we 

 soon found ourselves left alone ; but AVilfrid, who had 

 ridden to some risino- o-round in the direction of the 

 reported enemy, coming back without having seen 

 anything, we determined to have our coffee comfort- 

 ably, and made Hanna light his fire while the 

 camels were loading. He was rather flurried, l)ut 

 did as he was told. To the north, guarding the 

 line of retreat, we could still see parties of horse- 

 men occupying the heights, and there was no danger 

 of our not catching up our friends. We were very 

 unwilling to go after them, for their march is quite 

 out of our way, Ijut the Sleb have disappeared with 

 the rest, and we had no choice but to follow. Be- 

 sides, we are still hankering after Beteyen's mare, 

 which we should be sorry altogether to give up 

 hopes of. 



As we were sittins; drinkino; our coffee with the 

 camels just loaded, a horseman appeared from the 

 south, and for a moment we thought it one of the 

 enemy, but it proved to be Meshiir who had ven- 

 tured out alone to reconnoitre. He had seen nothing, 

 but advised us not to stay any longer so far from 

 the main body, and then rode away to join the 

 men on the hills. So we mounted and followed the 



