to save other peoples,"
he answered. "Let's be quite frank, Jael. I'm in danger out here.
All I've got with me besides two respectable men are thieves from
El-Kalil. That little army of Ali Higg's lies between me and the
border, and I'm no kind of a darn-fool optimist when it comes to
figuring on Ali Higg's hospitality in Petra. Nor am I kidding
myself I can persuade His Dibs by a theological argument or any
cheap advice.

"But I've reasoned it out this way--if Ali Higg sends Ayisha to
El-Kalil rather than trust you to do your shopping, that's
because he sets a value on you. Since he sends you out in charge
of a raid on El-Maan I guess he sets a high value on you. That's
as good as saying you've got influence. Believe me, Jael,
you'll use that influence to suit my plans or we're not going
to be friends!"

"Friends?" she said, and stared at him.

"Sure. Why not? Look at the men I've got with me; they're all my
friends. I'm right proud to say it. I might have hanged most of
them once, but I never knew it do much good to a man to hang him;
so we get acquainted, and one way and another we contrive to keep
on good terms.

"See my point? Nobody'd hang you if I scooted back over the
border with you, Jael. There isn't a law that would cover your
case. But they'd deport you, and you'd be an outcast with tabs
kept on you, and I've seen your sort come to a bad end. I never
liked to see it. I never saw anybody gain by it. I'd sooner see
you winning every one's respect by sticking to Ali Higg and
schooling him to play safe."

Her pale face actually blushed under the freckles. She had not
lived in America for nothing. As the wife of a polygamist she
knew exactly what he meant about winning respect. Her sort enjoys
to be patronized by reformers and social uplifters about as much
as an eagle likes a cage.

"You talk well," she said, "but you must be a fool at bottom, or
you wouldn't suggest friendship with me. Can you imagine me not
pushing you into Ali Higg's clutches at the first chance?"

"Sure I can, or I wouldn't waste time talking. You've got more
sense than that, Jael. You might trick me. It has been done. Ali
Higg might scupper me and the crowd--he mighty likely would. But
that 'ud be the end of Ali Higg's prospects, for as sure as my
name's Grim the British would smash him to avenge me, and you
know it! If they didn't get you they'd get him, and you'd become
the property of the first petty chief who could lay his h