“He told us he had hustled Nadia and Budthorne out of the town and sent them off on fleet horses, guided by Gumar, to join Ras al Had’s train.”
“Correct.”
“And having but one good horse, which he was riding, he could not provide for us and help us overtake them.”
“So he said.”
“Having given us that game of talk, he induced us to follow him and got us into this merchant train, bound for Akka and the coast.”
“Which seems lucky for us——”
“Then,” cut in the Texan. “Now——”
“Well, at least, we escaped being seized and beheaded. It is plain Assouan kept his promise when he said he would try to put the Turks on a false scent, and so give us a chance for our lives.”
Brad shook his head.
“Mebbe he did. Anyhow, he didn’t tell these people who we were, and you happened to have money enough on you to induce the old rascal at the head of the train to take us along. He knew there was trouble in Damascus, and that foreigners were in danger, but he didn’t know the full truth. Had he, I opine he would have dodged us a heap. I judge he’s getting some suspicious of us now, and he wishes he hadn’t bothered any with us, for all of the money.”