We were just peeping into one of the further chambers, and trying to count the number of graves in it, when we heard a great noise outside—shouting, and yelling, and jabbering, and, to our great alarm and dismay, a number of Arabs rushed into the tomb, shaking their fists at us, and screaming at the top of their voices. Sir William was very much agitated and frightened, for it was a wild and lonely place, far out of the reach of any European building or any public road.
We scrambled out as quickly as we could, followed closely by the Arabs. Miss Schwarz was haranguing them in Arabic, but as we could not understand either what they were saying to her or she was saying to them, we were very much alarmed indeed, and felt sure that they intended to rob us, or even to murder us.
When we came out of the tomb we were still more terrified, for we saw that some of the Arabs had seized our horses, which we had tied to a tree near, and were preparing to lead them away.
"Oh dear, I wish we had never come!" said Sir William. "What shall we do? If I could only talk to these fellows! Don't be frightened, Evelyn darling. What do they want, Miss Schwarz? What do you think had better be done?"
"I think they only want money," she said, turning away from the Arabs, who were shaking their fists at her most fiercely. "I will see what can be done. They say we have insulted the sheik of the village by entering the tomb without leave, and of course they threaten all sorts of dreadful things. But I will manage them; don't be alarmed! Have you any money with you, Sir William?"
"Yes, a little," he said, "not very much. How much will they want?"
"Oh, they shall not have very much," she said. "Have you a mejedie? It is a large Turkish coin—larger than half a crown; it is worth about three and sixpence."
"Yes, I think I have," he said; "I will look."
"No, not now, please," she said; "wait a minute or two."
So she had another long conversation with the Arabs, and then, to our astonishment, they brought up our horses, and helped us to mount in the most gallant manner. Then, when we were quite ready to start, Miss Schwarz turned to Sir William.