Frank dismounted and calmly advanced to meet the old Arab, having given his rifle to Ephraim.
“What do you desire of us, sir?” asked Frank, as they came near together.
The old man glowered at the boy, and then asked, in rather poor English:
“Is there no man with you? Ain-el-Khair has no time to waste with boys.”
Frank flushed a bit, drawing himself up proudly, as he returned:
“Though I am a boy, I am the leader of this party. If you have any business with us, you will do it with me.”
“By the beard of the Prophet, you speak boldly for a youth! But you do not know me, else you would grovel in the dust at my feet.”
“I am not in the habit of groveling in the dust for any one,” said the boy, proudly. “I scarcely think I would begin with you.”
The scowl on Ain-el-Khair’s face deepened.
“I say you do not know me,” he repeated.