Oriental Encounters / Palestine and Syria, 1894-6

D THE

e herbage. Only thistles, blue and yellow, and some thorny bushes had survived; but after the torrential winter rains the whole expanse would blossom like the rose. I traversed the pla

oldiers'-for the clip-clap of a horse's hoofs invariably beats out in my brain some tune, the most incongruous, against my will-when a sudden outcry roused me. It came from my companion, a hired muleteer, and sounded angry. The fellow had been riding on ahead. I now saw that he had overtaken other travellers-two men astride of one donkey-and had entered into conversation with them. One of the t

He asked to look at it a minute, seeming to admire. I gave it, like the innocent I am. He stuck it in his belt, and asked to see the passport which permitted me to carry weapons. Who ever heard of such a

ed his dependence on my manhood more than gold and precious stones. Summoning all t

I roared. 'O soldier! it

face-a handsome face, with fair moustach

not understand,' h

olest from the mul

t is a thing unworthy of your Honour's notice. The rogue in que

, I never saw his devil's face until this minute!

ife,' I ordered f

ever!' was t

t back,

a charming smile. 'Demand it not. Be pleased to understand that if it were your Honour's knife I would return it instantly. But that man, a

my dog for the present;

, that is quit

ot turned his head nor shown the slightest interest in the discussion. This had lasted long enough. I knew that in another minute I should have to laugh. If anything remained for

oldier moved me to open the revolver, showing that it was not loaded. Then my adversary was transfigured. His back straightened, his mouth closed, his eyes regained their old intelligence. He stared at me a moment, half incre

sitting waiting for some luncheon when the donkey and its riders came again in sight. The soldier tumbled off on spying me and ran int

e of that vile joke that thou didst put upon me. It was not loaded

t,' was my answer; at which he laughed anew

e done had I refused? It was not lo

ol. I rapped his knuckles gently with the bu

a week, and after that wilt see no more. Efendim, take me as thy servant always!' Of a sudden he spoke very earnestly. 'Pay the money to release me from the army

urce. 'By Allah, I can shoe a horse and cook a fowl; I can mend garments with a thread and shoot a bird upon the wing,' he told me. 'I would take care of the stable and the house. I would do ever

d on me deftly and enforced respect, making me really wish for such

rmured. 'My nickname is Rash?d the Fair, forget not. I

might think ab

an indulgent smile. 'Let me tell thee, O my lord, that I was in my right and duty as a soldier of the Sultan in this province. It is that muleteer who, truly speaking, breaks the law by carrying the knife without a permit. And thou, hast thou a passport for that fine revolver? At the pl

and yet my intimate conviction was that he was honest. All the Europeans in the land would lift up hands of horror and exclaim: 'Beware!' on hearin