ed to know, in the first place, whether you had
food; as for lodging, Mr. Baroni, I dare say, will manage something for
you; and if not, you had better quarter yourselves by the side of this
tent. With your own cloaks and mine, you will manage very well.'

'Thank you, my lord. We have brought your lordship's things with us. I
don't know what I shall do to-morrow about your lordship's boots. The
savages have got hold of the bottle of blacking and have been drinking
it like anything.'

'Never mind my boots,' said Tancred, 'we have got other things to think
of now.'

'I told them what it was,' said Freeman, 'but they went on just the
same.'

'Obstinate dogs!' said Tancred.

'I think they took it for wine, my lord,' said Trueman. 'I never see
such ignorant creatures.'

'You find now the advantage of a good education, Trueman.'

'Yes, my lord, we do, and feel very grateful to your lordship's honoured
mother for the same. When we came down out of the mountains and see
those blazing fires, if I didn't think they were going to burn us alive,
unless we changed our religion! I said the catechism as hard as I could
the whole way, and felt as much like a blessed martyr as could be.'

'Well, well,' said Tancred, 'I dare say they will spare our lives. I
cannot much assist you here; but if there be anything you particularly
want, I will try and see what can be done.'

Freeman and Trueman looked at each other, and their speaking faces held
common consultation. At length, the former, with some slight hesitation,
said, 'We don't like to be troublesome, my lord, but if your lordship
would ask for some sugar for us; we cannot drink their coffee without
sugar.'

CHAPTER XXXII.

_Suspense_

'I WOULD not mention it to your lordship last night,' said Baroni; 'I
thought enough had happened for one day.'

'But now you think I am sufficiently fresh for new troubles.' 'He spoke
it in Hebrew, that myself and Sheikh Hassan should not understand him,
but I know something of that dialect.'

'In Hebrew! And why in Hebrew?' 'They follow the laws of Moses, this
tribe.' 'Do you mean that they are Jews?' 'The Arabs are only Jews
upon horseback,' said Baroni. 'This tribe, I find, call themselves
Rechabites.'

'Ah!' exclaimed Tancred, and he began to muse. 'I have heard of that
name before. Is it possible,' thought he, 'that my visit to Bethany
should have led to this captivity?'

'This affair must have been planned at Jerusal