most
men keep under their hats. I'm told she has designs on the throne
of Mesopotamia."

"Mespot? I thought the League of Nations was going to let the
Arabs choose their own king."

"Sure. And as soon as she sees that Ali Higg's pretensions don't
amount to a row of shucks I wouldn't give ten piastres for that
gentleman's lease of life! Borgia had nothing on her, they
tell me."

"So we're out to play chess with a white woman. Why didn't you
tell me this before?"

"What's your hurry?" asked Grim. "If you find out too much all at
once you'll lose your bearings. I'll introduce you to the lady if
we ever reach Petra right side up. Now let's eat, and get a move
on. A full belly for a long march! Come."

CHAPTER IV

"Go and Ask the Kites, then, At Dat Rasi"

So far everything worked out strictly according to plan. We had
hardly finished a hurried meal when the lady Ayisha and her men
arrived on mean baggage camels provided by old Rafiki; and they
were not in the least pleased with their mounts, for a baggage
camel is as different from a beast trained to carry a rider as an
up-to-date limousine is from a Chinese one-wheel barrow. Perched
on top of the lady Ayisha's beast was a thing they call a
_shibrayah_--a sort of tent with a top like an umbrella, resting
on the loads slung to the camel's flanks. From inside that she
was busy abusing everybody.

There was only one good camel with her outfit--a small, blooded
looking Bishareen, a shade or two lighter in color than the
rest, ridden by a wiry, mean rascal with a very black face.
He seemed anxious not to assert himself, for he kept his
mount well away in the shadows, and moved off when any one
approached him.

It was growing pitch-dark. Grim counted noses and gave the order
to be off. Two or three men mounted, and that brought all the
kneeling camels to their feet. One of Ali Baba's sons caught the
beast assigned to me, brought him round to the gate, and began
_nakhing_ him to make him kneel again. But I know one or two
things about Arabs and their ways of assessing humanity.
Knowledge is for use.

"Do you mistake me for a cripple?" I asked, and instead of
continuing to _nakh_ in the camel language he pulled the beast's
head down.

The trick is simple enough. You put your foot on the hollow of
the camel's neck and swing into the saddle as he raises his head
again. Men used to the desert despise you if you have to make
your mount kneel in order