to scan the next-comer's face; and when we were all up they laid
the planks again, and piled heavy stones in place. Then an old man
lighted another lantern, using no match, although there was a box
of them beside him on the floor, but transferring flame patiently
with a blade of dry grass. Somebody else lit a torch of resinous
wood that gave a good blaze but smoked abominably.

"What has become of our horses?" demanded Fred, looking swiftly
about him.

We were in a great, dim stone-walled room whose roof showed a corner
of star-lit sky in one place. There were twenty men surrounding
us, but no woman. Two trade-blankets sewn together with string hanging
over an opening in the wall at the far end of the room suggested,
nevertheless, that the other sex might be within ear-shot.

"The horses?" Fred demanded again, a bit peremptorily.

One of the men who had met us smirked and made apologetic motions
with his hands.

"They will be attended to, effendi--"

"I know it! I guarantee it! By the ace of brute force, if a horse
is missing--! Arabaiji!"

One of our three Zeitoonli stepped forward.

"Take the other two men, Arabaiji, and go down to the horses. Groom
them. Feed them. If any one prevents you, return and tell me."