12 TALES OF A NOMAD. 



We could distinguish the patch of cultivated ground 

 we had unwittingly trespassed upon during our last 

 night's journey. 



We munched our biscuits and took a pull at our 

 water-bottles by way of breakfast. 



At about nine o'clock from the villages at the farther 

 end of the valley we saw four large troops of cattle 

 descend into the plain and spread themselves out to 

 feed. 



In the four troops there must have been at least 1200 

 or 1500 head of cattle. 



We discussed the situation, and speculated as to the 

 intentions of the commandant. 



We conjectured that he must contemplate entering the 

 valley by night with a body of men, lying in wait till the 

 cattle came out to feed, capturing them all, leaving 

 another body of men lying perdu near the neck, with 

 orders to seize the hills on each side of the neck, and 

 thus secure a safe exit from the valley for the party who 

 seized the cattle. 



All this seemed feasible enough, for the cattle were 

 feeding so far out upon the plain that we could have 

 galloped down from our hillock and have secured them 

 before they could have been driven back within the 

 shelter of the villages. There was, moreover, a gully 

 about a mile farther on, and nearer to the cattle, which 

 was capable of concealing almost any number of mounted 

 men. 



As the sun rose higher the heat became more and 

 more oppressive, and we looked forward rather ruefully 

 to the prospect of lying stretched out upon our hillock 

 all day long. 



About eleven A.M. Trooper G gave a whistle of 



