292 
A CRUSADE IN THE EAST. 
account of the intense character of the pleasure he experienced 
in catching a glimpse of two muffled figures, crouching behind, 
a rock on the road-side. But, somehow, Syed Sulemin, usual¬ 
ly so docile and obedient, began to cut an extraordinary num¬ 
ber of flourishes, and actually refused to proceed a step further. 
Saladin, inspired by the capering of his rival, and supposing 
that it was preparatory to a race, dashed off without further 
notice, and in a few moments was close up to the rock. The 
figures rose ; there were four. They were not robbers ; they 
were only two Bedouin women, an old man, and a donkey, 
resting with a sack of wheat, on their way to the mill. I 
had scarcely noted these facts, when Syed Sulemin came thun¬ 
dering up with Yusef, who had drawn his pistols, and was 
ready for slaughter. 
Yusef.— “ Where are the wretches ? Let me at ’em ! 
Pooh I only two women ! only one old man ! only a miser¬ 
able ass ! Come on, sir ! come on ! We’ll find better game 
than that before long.” 
General.- —“ I sincerely hope not. Certainly, if we again 
discover human game, I shall dismount from Saladin, and let 
him proceed alone. On the whole, I think we are rather 
fortunate in not finding robbers on this occasion.” 
Yusef. —“ But the delight—the glory of the thing ! The 
exquisite satisfaction of shedding blood. On, Sulemin, on. 
By heavens ! if there’s a robber within ten miles, we’ll have 
him !” 
General (seizing Yusef’s bridle again).—“ Now, I protest 
against this insane courage, Yusef; this flying in the face of 
Providence. Take it easy—take it easy. The very philos¬ 
ophy of life is to be content with what you’ve got. If you 
have friends instead of enemies around you, it is the will of 
Allah. Smoke the pipe of content. Be assured, good and evil 
fortune enough will come in due time; don’t make yourself 
unhappy by bad dreams and sanguinary hopes. Bask in the 
sunshine of peace, while it lasts; cease that constant chafing 
for human blood. Sleep while you can sleep, and smoke while 
you can smoke. Depend upon it, there is no happiness in 
steaming it through the world this way; living at a railroad 
