“Why did you say that, Abdullah?” asked Rupert.
“Because, Bey, had he known who these female bringers of ill-luck are, we should soon have had the whole tribe of them about us. It is said everywhere that Ibrahim wishes to take the young one, who is a great chieftainess, for a wife, and that he had sworn to do so.”
“Lies are stones that fall on the head of the thrower,” replied Rupert, for he was troubled and uneasy, and now wished sincerely that he had refused to escort Bakhita and her beautiful niece who made offerings to Egyptian gods to secure a safe journey across the desert.
He sent for Bakhita and the girl, who guided their camels alongside of his.
“Tell me,” he said, “what is this story about the lady here and the sheik Ibrahim, who, it seems, is really looking out for her?”
“What I told you, Bey,” Bakhita answered. “In old days, when Ibrahim’s tribe was the stronger, our people fought him and drove him back over the Jebal Marru—that was more than a hundred years ago. In the summer before last, when my lady of Tama and I, with a large escort, were coming from our home to the Nile, we camped at the Sweet Wells and accepted a present of food from the sheik Ibrahim. In the morning before we marched he visited us, and by misfortune saw Mea unveiled and was set on fire by her beauty, so that at once he asked her in marriage, the dog of a Prophet-worshipper. Having many men with us, I answered him as he deserved, whereon, growing angry, he replied that that which was refused could still be taken, but since we had eaten his salt, it must be done another time. So we parted, for we were too strong to be attacked. Now through his spies at Luxor and along the Nile he has learned that Mea is come back, which she did hurriedly when not expected, because he tried to kidnap her in Luxor itself. So it came about that I had no escort ready for her. Nor did I dare to stop at Abu-Simbel, for I heard that he proposed to attack us there so soon as you were gone, and there was no steamer by which she could descend the Nile again, whereof his people watch the banks. Therefore we sought your merciful protection.”
“I think that before all is done you are likely to need it,” said Rupert, “and were I what I seem that would not trouble me, but now I am afraid.”
“Let us leave the Bey and take our chance,” said Mea, speaking across him to her aunt in Arabic. “It is not right that we should bring him into danger. I told you so from the first.”
“Yes,” answered Bakhita briefly, “if the Bey so wishes.”
Rupert glanced at Mea, who had drawn her veil aside, perhaps that she might see him better. The moonlight shone upon her sweet face, and he perceived that her eyes were full of fear. Evidently she dreaded the sheik very much indeed, who knew that in this lawless land where might was right, he could take her without question if he were able, and force her into his harem.