“Because very likely he is doing all this to save us for himself. Suppose he robs us and then runs away to Tadmor in the wilderness, or some other outlandish place, what can we do? There are no policemen here.”
“Hush,” said Mr Preston; “here he is.”
Yussuf came gravely stalking down from above where he had been taking a fresh observation inland.
“I can see nothing, effendi,” he said softly. “We must sleep and see what another day brings forth.”
“Yes,” said Mr Preston; “and we are all weary. But, Yussuf.”
“Effendi?”
“How did you know that my friend, here, and I carried belts containing gold?”
The Muslim looked from one to the other sharply, and it was plain that he read the suspicion in their eyes, for his own flashed, and a stern aspect came over his countenance.
It passed away directly and his face lit up with a smile.
“Simply enough, excellencies,” he said. “Mr Burne, here, is always feeling his waist to find out whether it is quite safe, or lifting it up a little because it is heavy.”