sons in
trust at Petra."

"You'll admit it's unusual?"

"Do you find it strange that a woman should be faithful to
her lord?"

"But to Ali Higg? He has a name--a reputation! How many wives
has he?"

"The Koran permits but four. The others are not wives."

"And you're going back?"

_"Inshallah."_ [If God is willing.]

It was obvious that no alternative would have the least appeal
for her.

"Well, your movements have all been known to me. Your men have
been watched. The word from Jerusalem is that the two you sent
there have made their purchases. I heard over the telephone that
they are on their way here. A suggestion has been made to me
that you five might be held here as hostages to bring Ali
Higg to terms."

She laughed. "He would raid, and make prisoners, ten for one. If
an exchange were not made promptly his prisoners would be put to
torture, and--"

De Crespigny saw fit to bring the conversation back to its other
foot, as it were. Not the whole British Army was in a position
just then to impose its will on Ali Higg, so certainly de
Crespigny was not; and if you are any kind of real diplomatist,
with a career in front of you, you don't talk fight unless you
mean it.

"But of course, as you've claimed my protection I couldn't dream
of that," he assured her. "Now, is there anything else you want
after those men get here from Jerusalem?"

"Nothing else."

"They'll be here in an hour or so. Would you be ready to leave at
once for Petra?"

"As soon as I can join a caravan."

"Today? This evening, for instance?"

"Allah provide it!"

"That's settled, then."

He turned toward Grim.

"This is Sheik Hajji,* Jimgrim bin Yazid of El-Abdeh, who has
twice made the pilgrimage to Mecca. He is my honored friend. He
starts tonight with a caravan toward Petra. You may travel with
him and be in safe hands all the way."

----------
* One who has made the pilgrimage to Mecca
----------

She eyed Grim curiously, startled, it seemed to me. Then her
expression changed slowly to excitement, followed by a look of
baffling wisdom, as much as to say she knew something and would
not tell. I don't think it was his name that startled her; that
sounded Arabic enough.

"What business has he at Petra?" she asked.

De Crespigny let Grim answer that conundrum.

_"Ya sit Ayisha,"_* said Grim, "I carry a letter to Sheikh Ali
Higg from some one in Arabia. I will deliver you along with the
letter. You may have a pl