Talbot Mundy

“ Ever since the days of Ruth, and no doubt long before that, it has been the first law of the desert that man or woman claiming protection can no longer be treated as an enemy. It is possibly the earliest form of free-masonry, and it survives.
Arab history is full of instances of a warrior laying down his life for an enemy who has claimed protection from him. And young de Crespigny was ruler of the most unruly city in the Near East because he understood better than most men how to respect Arab prejudices. ”

“ CHAPTER II. “Trust in God, but tie your camel!” DO YOU believe in portents? I do. Whenever in the East the first two statements that a man has made in my presence, and that I have a chance to test, prove accurate I go ahead and bet on all the rest. I don’t mean by that that because a man has told the truth twice he won’t lie on the third and fourth occasion; for the East is like the West in that respect, and usually seeks to turn its virtue into capital. ”

“ You did not need to be a camel expert to know those great long-legged Syrian beasts for winners. They looked like the first pick of a whole countryside, as he maintained they were—twenty-five of them in one string, representing an investment at after-war prices of the equivalent of five or six thousand U.S. dollars.
“Who has been looted to pay for these?” asked Grim.
“Allah! You have put an end to our proper business, Jimgrim. What could we do? We took our money and bought these camels, thinking to take a hand in the caravan trade.”
Grim looked into the old rogue’s eyes and laughed. ”

“ If Grim had not told me that the Sikh had been first to suggest taking me to Petra I would have insulted him painstakingly there and then; but you learn a certain amount of self-restraint, I suppose, before such a man as Narayan Singh ever approves of you for any purpose. ”

“ Men have spoken evil of her, but none can prove it. I have heard it said she has a devil. ‘Trust in God but tie your camel,” says the Book. [2] The wisest among wise men would be he who let that woman alone!”
“I suppose I’ll have to get Captain de Crespigny to arrange it for me.”
“Tfu! [3] There is no need for a man like you to appeal to the Governor. Taib. It shall be done. Have no doubt of it.”
“All right. Send her up to the Governorate—and no delays, mind! We start tonight at sundown.”
On our way back we met Narayan Singh returning from the suk with parcels under his arm. ”

“ Not the whole British army was in 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.” ”

“ That young woman knew every trick of deportment down to the outward thrust of a shapely bare foot in an upturned Turkish slipper. Her clothing was linen, not black cotton that Bedouin women usually wear, and much of it was marvelously hand-embroidered ”

“ 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. ”