Her husband looked blankly at her.
“‘The bird’,” Kate explained; “a theatrical term indicating peremptory dismissal.”
By this time the train of camels was within fifty yards of them; and Daniel called out to his men to halt. His servant Hussein came forward, and took charge of his camel.
“I’ll pitch my camp at once,” he said to Muriel. “Then I can go and announce myself to your father this afternoon.”
Acting on an impulse, a desire to establish friendly relations at the outset, Muriel dismounted from her horse. “Do let me stay and help you,” she suggested.
“Sure,” said Daniel. He called to one of his men to hold her horse.
Muriel turned and explained the situation to her friend Kate.
“The man’s practically going to live with us,” she whispered: “I’d better make friends.”
“Oh, rot!” said Kate. “He’s a picturesque lunatic, and you’re a bit mad yourself, and it’s a lovely day, and you’ve got nothing to do, and you know you look a dream in that riding kit.” She turned to her husband. “Come along, Benifett; her ladyship’s going to spend the day with the gent from the Wild West.”
Muriel laughed. “I’ll ride back to the hotel soon,” she said.