that he did not crank up and desert. Now he was back beside me,
trying to bolster up his own courage by making me afraid.

"They have determined to take me along with them to prevent me
from escaping," he complained. "That man on the horse is saying
that if more men go with Anazeh than you and two others, there
will certainly be fighting. And Anazeh answers, he has pledged
his word. Can you not say something to persuade Anazeh?"

I would rather have tried to persuade a tiger. Short of knocking
the old raider on the head and standing off his twenty ruffians,
I could not imagine a way of turning him from his set purpose.
And at that, I had not a weapon of any kind. I was the goods,
and the game old sportsman intended to deliver me, right side up,
perhaps, but all in one piece and to the proper consignee.


"I don't see anything to worry about," said I.

"Wait till you hear the bullets!" Ahmed answered. Nevertheless,
bullets or no bullets, I did not see what I could do about it.
Again I remembered Grim's advice: "Do what the leader of the
escort tells you." I had begun to feel sorry for Ahmed in spite
of his self-pity, but his fear wasn't contagious and his advice
wasn't worth listening to.

"Effendi, you are Anazeh's guest. He must do as you demand, if
you ask in the Name of the Most High. Tell him, therefore, that
you have an urgent business in El-Kudz. Demand that he send you
back, with me, in my boat!"