arrived at the place at which it was proposed that we should
breakfast. There was a large well there, and shade afforded by a
rock under which the water sprung; and the Arabs had constructed a
tank out of which the horses could drink, so that the place was
ordinarily known as the first stage out of Jerusalem.

Smith had said not a word about his saddle, or complained in any way
of discomfort, so that I had in truth forgotten the subject. Other
matters had continually presented themselves, and I had never even
asked him how he had fared. I now jumped from my horse, but I
perceived at once that he was unable to do so. He smiled faintly,
as his eye caught mine, but I knew that he wanted assistance. "Ah,"
said I, "that confounded Turkish saddle has already galled your
skin. I see how it is; I shall have to doctor you with a little
brandy,--externally applied, my friend." But I lent him my
shoulder, and with that assistance he got down, very gently and
slowly.

We ate our breakfast with a good will; bread and cold fowl and
brandy-and-water, with a hard-boiled egg by way of a final delicacy;
and then I began to bargain with Joseph for the loan of his English
saddle. I saw that Smith could not get through the journey with
that monstrous Turkish affair, and that he would go on without
complaining till he fainted or came to some other signal grief. But
the Frenchman, seeing the plight in which we were, was disposed to
drive a very hard bargain. He wanted forty shillings, the price of
a pair of live Bedouins, for the accommodation, and declared that,
even then, he should make the sacrifice only out of consideration to
me.