Mankind had been no gainer by
itsdrudges.
We were stumbling down theirregular hill-side, when
the men in front suddenly dashed forward. Adhub went offwith Ahmed and Awad to look
for gazelle. Thereby we would serve to promotethe not-doing rather than the doing.
An Arab by saving his beast, couldbring it home in fair condition after hard
work.
We lay close together, hushedand straining the ears
to catch the throbbing of Allenbys guns.
Then we found one of Alis servantsstanding by his
halted camel.
Beyond us the black tents of the Beni Sakhrwere
like a herd of goats spotting the valley. Awad, his rank-man, each time caught his
halter, and had helpedhim up before we overtook them. God have mercy uponher, she
died the year of samh, in the Snainirat, of a puff-adder. Ali and I worked at the
last arrangements for our ride.
His large tents, with the women, had been sent away
beyondreach of the Turkish aeroplanes. Look at the drystones for my bed-place, and
for Tarfas next it. They hadmissed us, to our mutual benefit, by five minutes. He
decided that this little party would be fittest armedwith just one Vickers gun. The
matter of the Howeitatmust be put right. To them we explained Feisals needs, and
ourplan to relieve him.
Awad, his rank-man, each time caught his halter,
and had helpedhim up before we overtook them.
Our skirmishers headed by Ahmed andAwad, ran out to
right and left, and long shots were exchanged.
This wasGhadir el Abyadh, recommended by Mifleh as
our ambush.
That, andour ready silence perplexed
them.
Auda raised his haggard eyes towards the west,
andsaid, The English guns. Unhappily my rest time was spoiled by a bed of
justice.
My eyes wereupon a notable red camel, perhaps a
seven-year-old, under a Sirhani inthe second line.
There could be no rest-houses for revolt, no
dividend of joypaid out.
Ha, cried Mifleh to me while they were still a mile
off, that isFahad, on his Shaara, in the front.
So Alis justice moved on wings before the
food-bowls couldbe carried up.
Feisal haddeputed us to inquire into the reasons
for the costly delay. It lay in a little floor ofbare limestone among sand-hummocks.
Awad, his rank-man, each time caught his halter, and had helpedhim up before we
overtook them.
Our clothes were splashed, our mouths running over,
thetips of our fingers scalded with its heat. He was understanding, helped
wisely,and wished our cause well.
Our skirmishers headed by Ahmed andAwad, ran out to
right and left, and long shots were exchanged.
There we had peaceful unbroken nightonce more, and
swung forward in fair order under the stars. Mustafa, my man, an inexperienced
rider, fell offtwice. This country was a torn-tiddlers ground of raiding
parties.
I felt his harsh beard brush my ear as he whispered
to mewindily, Beware of Abd el Kader.
I felt his harsh beard brush my ear as he whispered
to mewindily, Beware of Abd el Kader. Ali and I worked at the last arrangements for
our ride.
He also wasunhurt, and remounted hastily.