"There are some horsemen!"
"Eight of them, Zaki, and they are evidently riding to cut us off! As far as I can see, only four of them have guns; the others have spears.
"I think we can manage them. With my breech-loader I can fire two shots to their one, and we have pistols, as well."
The Arabs drew up ahead of them, and remained quiet there until the others came to within fifty yards, and checked their horses. A man who appeared to be the leader of the party shouted the usual salutation, to which Gregory replied.
The leader said, "Where are my friends going and why do they halt?"
"We are on a mission. We wish to see if the infidels are still at Ambukol."
"For that you will not want guns," the man said, "and we need them badly. I beg of you to give them to us."
"They may be of use to us. We may come upon infidel scouts."
"Nevertheless, my friends, you must hand them over to us. We are, as you see, eight, and you are only two. The law of the desert is that the stronger take, and the weaker lose."
"It may be so, sometimes," Gregory said quietly, "but not in this case. I advise you to ride your way, and we will ride ours."