a trick on me, or otherwise--"

"There is a trick to ruling," answered Grim.

"By the beard of the Prophet, that is true! But show me a trick
that can defeat eight hundred men. The Sheikh of Abu Lissan plans
to come against me. Those El-Mann dogs had heard of it, and so
had the Beni Aroun; therefore I planned to crush them first
before dealing with Abu Lissan. Show me a trick that can defeat
the Abu Lissan men, and surely I will call thee friend!"

"Suppose we make a bargain, then," said Grim.

_"Taib._ I am ready."

"Giving pledges for fulfilment."

"You mean I shall give pledges to the British?"

"Hardly," Grim answered. "If they took a pledge from you that
would be like signing a treaty, wouldn't it? I have no authority
to sign a treaty. This must be a bargain between me and thee."

_"Taib."_

"It is known," said Grim, "that you have money on deposit with
the Bank of Egypt."

"A lie! A lie!" snapped Ali Higg. "Who said it?"

"Fifty thousand pounds in gold was the exact amount, deposited at
six percent, and interest to be compounded every half-year," said
Grim. "And because the Koran denounces usury by Moslems, and you
are a pious man--and also perhaps because of the risk attached to
using your name in the matter--your wife Jael's name was used.
Nevertheless, your seal was used at the time as a check on her.
Now, at a word from me the British would impound that money,
interest and all."

"A murrian on them! But you spoke of being friends?"

"And of a pledge between you and me. In proof that I speak as a
friend, though I had your seal I have returned it."

Jael Higg confirmed that by displaying it in the hollow of
her hand.

"You can't possibly prevent a message from me reaching British
territory," Grim went on. "A letter is written already, and you
don't know which man has it. You are not my prisoner. I intend to
leave you free and unharmed. It is possible you might attack me
when I go, and kill me and some of my men; but the rest would
escape. And then would come aeroplanes, and you would never see
that money in the Bank of Egypt."

The Lion blinked away steadily, looking so absurdly like Grim
in some respects, and so utterly unlike him in character
nevertheless, that it looked like plus opposing minus, or a
strong man tempted by his baser self.

"Therefore," continued Grim, "if you will promise me to raid no
more villages I will undertake to deal with the Sheikh of Abu
Lissan. But as a pledg