From the third watch-station the town of Ramleh was visible, with a huge tower rising over it. The view was very pretty, as Ramleh is situated in the midst of luxuriant groves and orchards of olives and sycamores interspersed with palm-trees.
As they neared the town one of the horses became restive, and made a dash for a cactus hedge. He regretted his imprudence when the sharp spines of the plant entered his hide, and stopped so short that he narrowly missed throwing his rider over his head and into the thorny bushes. The other horses shared in the excitement, and for a few moments there was a scene of confusion among them. Happily no accident resulted, and the party entered Ramleh at a dignified pace.
[Chapter XXII.]
FROM RAMLEH TO JERUSALEM.—THE CHURCH OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE.
All the dragomans had told the travellers before leaving Jaffa that there was a small hotel at Ramleh, kept by a German, where a dozen or twenty persons could be accommodated, and there were convents of the Latin and Russian churches which served as hotels. They might have their choice, provided the place where he first applied was not already full. The boys thought it would be more interesting to go to one of the convents than to a hotel, and the rest of the party agreed with them; accordingly, it was arranged that they should spend the night either at the Latin or Russian establishment. When they were within a couple of miles of Ramleh Ali rode ahead at a gallop to arrange the matter, leaving the travellers to follow more leisurely.
A SYRIAN HORSEMAN.