The Frank looked round in our direction, with an angry face; but Suleymân bestowed no further thought on him. He rode up to the nearest group of fellâhîn, crying aloud:
'O true believers! O asserters of the Unity! Bless the Prophet, and inform me straightway what has happened!'
Having captured their attention by this solemn adjuration, he inquired:
'Who is the chief among you? Let him speak, him only!'
Although the crowd had seemed till then to be without a leader, an old white-bearded man was thrust before him, with the cry:
'Behold our Sheykh, O lord of judgment. Question him!'
Rashîd and I heard nothing of the conversation which ensued, except the tone of the two voices, which appeared quite friendly, and some mighty bursts of laughter from the crowd. No more stones were thrown, although some persons still kept guard over the spring.
At length Suleymân returned to us, exclaiming:
'All is well. They grant us leave to take what water we require. The spring has been a trouble to these people through the ages because the wandering tribes with all their herds come here in time of drought and drink it dry. But now they are our friends, and make us welcome.'
He called out to the Frank, who all this while had sat his horse with an indignant air, more angry, as it seemed, to be forgotten than to be assailed: