e and stalked us like dark
ghosts from the rear. They resembled a drag-net, drawing us in
the direction of Petra, and the only unblocked segment of the
circle was exactly in front of us. Every time I tried to count
them there seemed more than before, and there were certainly over
a hundred.

I got one close look at Grim's face, and knew he had made his
mind up what to do; but all the men were shouting different
advice and it was a question whether he would be able to get
control before a disaster happened. I said nothing and did
nothing but kept fairly close to him. Narayan Singh found his
proper place alongside me, with the halter of Ayisha's camel in
his hand; and he said nothing either.

Suddenly Grim reached out and seized old Ali Baba by the
shoulder, drawing him close and growling into his ear. I could
not catch the words, but he repeated them again and again, and
Ali Baba nodded vehemently. Not a shot had been fired yet, for
Grim had forbidden it, and the other side showed no disposition
to do other than surround us at a safe distance. But I noticed
they were reducing their estimate of safety and seemed to be
gradually closing in for a concerted rush from all sides at once.

Then two things happened suddenly. Out of the open horizon in
front, from between two great mounds that looked like ant-heaps,
three figures emerged on camels, apparently all alone and
unsupported. The one in the middle on the tallest camel made a
signal with a long strip of cloth waved like a semaphore against
the moonlight.

Instantly the opposing force began to close in, and Ali Baba
proved his mettle. Those sons and grandsons obeyed his order as
efficiently as he did Grim's. They made a feint all in a cluster
together straight for the widest gap in the circle behind us.

The enemy drew off to a safer distance, whereat Ali Baba wheeled
and charged another segment of the circle, widening it again.
Still not a shot had been fired by either side.

Around Grim now were Narayan Singh, Ayisha, and myself with our
prisoner Yussuf, and Ayisha's four. Grim watched his chance and
sent me to bring back four of Ali Baba's men, and by the time I
had done that he had lessened the distance perceptibly between
himself and the three lone individuals in front. He was leaning
low over his camel, peering at the three like a seaman staring
from a crow's-nest in a fog.

It was a weird business--a swiftly played chess game, almost
noiseless; for wher