Saba, who until now had been so gentle, began to bark in a deep and menacing manner, so that Mr. Rawlison ordered Chamis to hold him by the collar again. Meanwhile the two men, dressed in white burnooses, stopped before the tent.
“Who is there?” asked Mr. Tarkowski.
“Camel-drivers,” said one of the newcomers.
“Ah, you are Idris and Gebhr? What do you wish?”
“We have come to ask whether you will need us to-morrow?”
“No. To-morrow and the day after are great holidays, during which it is not customary for us to make excursions. Come three days from now, early in the morning.”
“We thank you, effendi.”
“And have you good camels?” asked Mr. Rawlison.
“Bismillah!” answered Idris. “Real saddle-horses with fat humps and gentle as lambs. Otherwise Cook would not have engaged us.”
“Do they not jolt considerably?”