At this moment the little caravan was apparently land-locked, the
defile again winding; but presently it became quite straight, and its
termination was visible, though at a considerable distance.
'I see horsemen,' said the Sheikh; 'several of them advance; they are
not Alouins.'
He rode forward to meet them, accompanied by Tancred and Baroni.
'Salaam,' said the Sheikh, 'how is it?' and then he added, aside to
Baroni, 'They are strangers; why are they here?'
'Aleikoum! We know where you come from,' was the reply of one of the
horsemen. 'Is that the brother of the Queen of the English? Let him
ride with us, and you may go on in peace.'
'He is my brother,' said Sheikh Hassan, 'and the brother of all here.
There is no feud between us. Who are you?'
'We are children of Jethro, and the great Sheikh has sent us a long way
to give you salaam. Your desert here is not fit for the camel that your
Prophet cursed. Come, let us finish our business, for we wish to see a
place where there are palm trees.'
'Are these children of Eblis?' said Sheikh Hassan to Baroni.
'It is the day of judgment,' said Baroni, looking pale; 'such a thing
has not happened in my time. I am lost.'
'What do these people say?' inquired Tancred.
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