THE ESCAPE FROM JEDABIA 41 



The spies were as clinging as limpets that day. 

 JMabruk leant over my shoulder as I spoke, pointing to 

 the wildest dancer with a forced smile. However, I was 

 determined to spoil his little effort and insisted that he 

 and Mustapha should accompany me on my walk. "I 

 don't like going through all these people alone," I said; 

 and reluctantly they had to come with me. 



Our last game of cross purposes will always remain 

 in my mind, for, with one eye on the clock, I summoned 

 every atom of intelligence to my aid. I allowed myself 

 to be reluctantly persuaded to return by camion to 

 Benghazi the following week. I asked reproachfully why 

 no ekhwan could be found to accompany me on a little 

 caravan tour. They assured me that none was willing 

 to travel with a Christian, and that no one of that faith 

 could journey beyond Jedabia. I took up and emphasised 

 this point for some time, as it would eventually preclude 

 their attempting to follow us. I allowed my bitter 

 disappointment to be seen, was comforted and finally 

 cheered up with a promise of visiting all the encampments 

 on the way back. We parted the best of friends and I 

 shall always retain a grateful memory of their kindness 

 and care. So often we longed to confide all our plans 

 to them. We were sure of their sympathy, but their 

 very hospitality would have made it impossible for them 

 to allow their erstwhile guest to venture her hfe on such 

 a wild and dangerous journey. 



Six months before I had talked to an Arabian Emir 

 about my project. "Heya magnuna!" he exclaimed 

 to his wakils. "She is mad. If she could get to Kufara, 

 she could get to any place in heaven or earth!" Thus 

 we knew from the beginning that we must hide our 

 object from our generous Italian friends. If they hadn't 

 thought that at least Hassanein had some political aim 

 in coming to Jedabia, remorse would probably have 



