"Tell me where this mischance befell your friend."
"A little beyond the tell The Turks spoke of a wady running into the river——"
"Well I know it. How many are these Turks?"
"Forty or fifty."
"Mashallah! They are delivered into our hands. I will take fifty of my best men, and we will fall upon these Turks before they come to the river. Doubt not that we will save your friend and also his machine, though that we cannot carry away: we can but destroy it."
"Will you not take a larger force?"
"What need? Shall it be told that an Arab of Rejeb's tribe is not equal to a dog of a Turk? I will go now and choose my best warriors and most skilful riders. You are very weary. When you have eaten, a couch shall be laid for you, and before you awake from sleep we shall have accomplished our work and returned."
"But I must go with you."
"Ahi! were it not better to take repose and refresh yourself for what the morrow may bring forth?"
"Believe me, I could not rest. I must join your party."