m what Arabs fought for in
the war, and I'm his wife. You ask me to betray him? Never!"

"Ali Higg is doing his worst, not his best, Jael."

"He is creating unity among these tribes," she retorted.

"He is practically forcing the British to come out and smash
him," said Grim. "Now, see here, Jael, I don't want him smashed.
I don't hold with his method, but that's the Arab's business; if
being crucified and shot for differences of opinion suits them,
why, no doubt Ali Higg's the right man for them. They tell me he
delivers the goods. But he can't go starting a new war out here,
not while I've any say he can't."

"Who are you that should say or not say?" she demanded.

"Same as Ali Higg, Jael; I'm a human. He's from Arabia, you're
from the Balkans, I'm from the U.S. We're all three foreigners,
aren't we?"

"Yes. But he and I are foreigners who will drive the British out--"

"And let French or Italians in."

"Ali Higg is a fighter, I tell you! He's an Arab, and he knows
how to control Arabs just as the Prophet Mohammed did. He has
only begun in a small way, but--"

"But he'll wind up like a small-town sport in the lock-up, the
way he's going," said Grim. "Now, see here, Jael, I'm just as set
on doing my bit in the world as Ali Higg is. Maybe I'm a mite
more tolerant, but there isn't a man or woman living who can
shift me off a course once I'm set on it.

"Ali Higg considers the Arabs need a holy war. I'm hell bent for
peace. I'm going to stop him. I'm not arguing that point, for it
won't bear arguing, and I'm not trying to convert you. But you're
in my power, and though I sure would hate to inconvenience a
lady, I'm that plumb remorseless I'd separate you from Ali Higg
for ever unless you helped me call him off the warpath."

"Help you!" she exclaimed with horror.

"Sure. You've got to! There's no law this side of the border,
Jael, that can make me hand you over to authority. There's no
mandate out here yet. There never will be one if I can prevent
it. I'm here to keep a foreign army from trespassing across the
Jordan, it being my crazy notion that Arabs can evolve their own
government, if let. You've got to help me keep that foreign army
out, or take the consequences."

She laughed at last. It was rather a hard laugh without much
mirth in it.

"Your words are a liar's, but your voice rings true," she said.
"I think you're only another of these diplomatists."

"I'm that diplomatic I'm chancing my hide