“One of the chaps who rob caravans?” queried Perry excitedly.
“I haven’t a doubt in the world,” said the Englishman, smiling, “that the very gentleman who is coming to see you has plundered many a caravan in times past.”
“Then he’s a real robber chief!”
“I fancy he wouldn’t call it robbery,” was the reply. “I was talking with one of the most noted Bedouins once, when we were on a punitive expedition into the desert, and he said that the occasional plundering of a caravan was just the same as the actions of civilized nations in taking customs duties on all cargoes coming into their ports. He jolly well took the ground that the Sahara belonged to the wandering tribes and that they had a right to levy tribute.”
“There’s something in that idea,” admitted the boy. “Is that why the chief never travels without an escort?”
“Not only that, but one Bedouin tribe is very often at war with the other. See, Perry, here they come now!” He pointed with his finger. “Wouldn’t you rather that they came in peace than in war?”
The boy looked over the wide ledge and there, sharply outlined against the evening sky, was a small band of horsemen, all armed with lances and dashing along at a speed which could be compared to nothing but a charge. Long white cotton mantles covered the Arab horsemen, each had a striped cloak made of camel’s hair cloth floating behind him in the wind, and a yellow and black striped handkerchief, folded somewhat turbanwise over their heads. The chief was accompanied by two of his brothers and the whole party came on at a full gallop.
It seemed as though they were going to charge straight through the tents, and Perry prepared to jump. But he kept his eye on the Survey expert, and seeing that Wyr remained motionless, the boy did not stir. The Bedouins were within ten feet of the party when they halted suddenly, so suddenly that the boy expected to see the fine-drawn legs of the Arab horses snap under the sudden shock. Such magnificent horses the boy had never seen.
With the Egyptian Survey expert as translator, greetings were exchanged, and then the Sheikh called certain of his escort to come up with a sheep and some turkeys, which were formally presented to “El Mudir.” In return, the Arabs were invited to a banquet, which was prolonged far into the night.
In the course of the conversation, El Mudir happened to speak in terms of praise of the Arab horses, and the next morning, to the surprise of every one in the camp, three were sent as a gift, with the Sheikh’s compliments.