two, Sombat and Noorian, were standing guard to watch the watchers.

"But I am sure they are fools," he added.

This man Arabaiji had been an excellent servant, but decidedly
supercilious toward the others from the time when he first came to
us in the khan at Tarsus. Regarding himself as intelligent, which
he was, he usually refused to concede that quality, or anything
resembling it, to his companions.

"That is why I was looking for you when you hit me in the dark with
that club of a fist of yours," I answered. "I wanted to speak with
you alone because I know you are not a fool."

He felt so flattered that he promptly let his pipe go out.

"While Sombat and Noorian are keeping an eye on the horses, I want
you to watch for trouble up above here," I said. "In case the people
of this place should seek to make us prisoner, then I want you to
gallop, if you can get your horse, and run otherwise, to the nearest--"

He checked me with a gesture and one word.

"Kagig!"

"What about him?" I demanded.

"If I were to bring Turks here, Kagig would never rest until my fingers
were pulled off one by one!"