"I did not at first understand what was going on," replied Ali, "and when I did go to his assistance it was too late. It all passed in a second."
"To what tribe do these Bedouins belong?" asked M. de Morin.
"They are Nomads, and do not belong to any particular tribe."
"And who is the man you have brought with you, whose portrait I have just been taking? Why did he not take to flight with his comrades?"
"He was not one of them. He had ridden out with them thus far, to say good-bye, but he was not following them. He had, in fact, just left them."
"Then you do not think him an accomplice of them?"
"No, he was just as much astonished as I was at the whole proceeding."
"Find out from him in what direction they have carried off my servant."
The Bedouin hesitated at first, but in the end declared that he was ignorant of the plans of his whilom companions.
"At all events," said Ali to him, "you know in what direction they went. Were they going to Medina?"