Chap. LXIX. APPROACH OF A HOST. 
493 
the slope of which we were encamped, kept an anxious 
look out towards the town. About dhohor, or two 
o'clock in the afternoon, he gave notice of the approach 
of horsemen in the distance, and while I went into 
my tent to look after my effects, Mohammed el Khalil 
rushed in suddenly, crying out to me to arm myself. 
Upon this I seized all the arms I had, consisting of 
a double-barrelled gun, three pistols, and a sword ; 
and I had scarcely come out when I met the Sheikh 
himself with the small six-barrelled pistol which I had 
given him in his hand. Handing one of my large 
pistols to Mohammed ben Mukhtar, a young man of 
considerable energy, and one of the chief followers 
of the Sheikh, I knelt down and pointed my gun at 
the foremost of the horsemen who, to the number of 
thirteen, were approaching. Having been brought to 
a stand by our threatening to fire if they came nearer, 
their officer stepped forward crying out that he had a 
letter to deliver to the Sheikh ; but the latter forbade 
him to come near, saying that he would only re- 
ceive the letter in the town, and not in the desert. 
The horsemen, finding that I was ready to shoot 
down the first two or three who should approach me, 
consulted with each other and then slowly fell back, 
relieving us from our anxious situation. But, though 
reassured of my own safety, I had my fears as to my 
servant and my two horses, and was greatly delighted 
when I saw them safely return from the water. How- 
ever, our position soon became more secure in conse- 
quence of the arrival of Sidi A'lawate, accompanied 
