"Have I made war on you?" asked Grim. "Have I disarmed you, or killed one man? Yet I enforce my will, as you shall see."
"By a trick! You played a trick on me, or otherwise—"
"There is a trick to ruling," answered Grim.
"By the beard of the Prophet, that is true! But show me a trick that can defeat eight hundred men. The Sheikh of Abu Lissan plans to come against me. Those El-Mann dogs had heard of it, and so had the Beni Aroun; therefore I planned to crush them first before dealing with Abu Lissan. Show me a trick that can defeat the Abu Lissan men, and surely I will call thee friend!"
"Suppose we make a bargain, then," said Grim.
"Taib. I am ready."
"Giving pledges for fulfilment."
"You mean I shall give pledges to the British?"
"Hardly," Grim answered. "If they took a pledge from you that would be like signing a treaty, wouldn't it? I have no authority to sign a treaty. This must be a bargain between me and thee."
"Taib."