66 THE SECRET OF SAHARA: KUFARA 



passes a fire with two or three white-robed figures clus- 

 tered round it without being asked to sit down with 

 them by the one expressive word "Fadhl!" It is 

 customary to say "Keif halak?" at least half a dozen 

 times to each individual, though the reply is always the 

 same, "Taiyib." 



That night, as we all sat round a fire with a cold 

 wind freezing our backs, j^^et feeling happily satiated 

 after our barley meal, the retinue became rhetorical in 

 its expressions of fidelity. The caravan had told them 

 that a motor had arrived from Zuetina the day after our 

 flight, and the town had instantly jumped to the con- 

 clusion that it was to take us back forcibly. We were 

 assured that the whole sjTnpathy of Jedabia was with 

 us, that our opponents were very angry at our escape, 

 but could do nothing because they themselves had recom- 

 mended us to the Sayed. I very much doubted this latter 

 statement and we determined to move on the following 

 afternoon if the caravan did not arrive in the morning. 

 We thought that we could get sufficient food for our men 

 from the Mojabras and repay them at Jalo if they would 

 not take money. I felt sorry for the spy. He evidently 

 wished he had not meddled in the affair at all. Farraj 

 astonished us by suddenly rising to his feet and, with 

 hands held to heaven, calling Allah to witness that he 

 would protect us to the last drop of his blood. "Not even 

 a thorn shall enter your sides," he chanted solemnly, and 

 there was an awed hush after so mighty an oath. 



Naturally om' spy escaped in the night. Our retinue 

 were as unpractical as they were lazy. Therefore, when 

 December 12 dawned, they were extremely averse to 

 any talk of starting. We explained to them with infinite 

 patience that in twent^^-four hours our whereabouts, our 

 plans, our intentions, our very thoughts would be known 

 in Jedabia. With the faith of children they said, 



