"There is only one well between here and the water, and it is usually
surrounded by caravans, with water as thick as the mud in a London
street in November, and dirtier, being polluted by the filth of man and
beast.

"This we will pass, contenting ourselves with the water we carry for
ablutions and cooking, and with wine or coffee to drink. If there is
water to spare the camels can have it, if not they can go without, with
the exception of the two that carry us.

"But you will find the going irksome even on Taffadaln, and so that you
may rest, beautiful woman, whose name even I do not know, Howesha,
which name, being translated, means that she is a past mistress in the
art of grumbling, carries all that will give you repose if you should
desire to stop before we reach our caravan."

And just as though she understood, Howesha the Grumbler, opening wide
her mouth, proceeded to give a series of very fine imitations,
including those of a nest of spitting snakes, a sobbing woman, and a
choking dog--all of which she concluded by her masterpiece, of a child
masticating sticky sweets, when her master, to stop her querulous
upbraidings, thrust dates between her polished teeth.

And then he turned to Jill, who was laughing delightedly, and stroked
her camel's coat.

"Later you shall have servants, many of them, who hand and foot, shall
do your bidding, and carry out your slightest wish, but to-night and
for ever I am your slave. Allah! to think that I, the worst feared man
in Egypt, whose word is law, who condemns to death by the lifting of a