But instead of doves, what he heard was the neighing and stamping of horses, and the calls of the men driving the camels out to pasture. As he turned his head, he found Hamid's mother standing beside him with a bowl in her hand.
"Here is warm milk from the camel," she said, with a smile, "to make thee well and redden thy cheeks. Hasten to drink it while it is warm. There is water in yonder basin with which to wash," she added.
Rashid was up in a minute, and dashed the water over his face and hands. Then he made his prayer like a good little Mohammedan that he was, for he must do this before eating.
"I never tasted anything nicer than that," said he, as he finished his bowl of milk.
"'Tis good for thee to be hungry, for it means that thou art already better," said little Fatimah, wisely, giving him a piece of the cake which had been baked the night before. She had brought in her bowl to keep him company at his breakfast.
"Where is Hamid?" asked Rashid, looking around for his little friend.
"He has been in and out many times; but I would not let him waken you," said Zubaydah.
"He is full of a secret that he will not tell me," spoke up Fatimah, in rather a hurt voice.
Just then Hamid poked his head in behind the curtain of the tent in a great state of excitement.