Talbot Mundy

“ He has taken his name. He has taken his wife. And now he will take his den. Akbar, Jimgrim Ali Higg of Petra!”
Mahommed the poet was riding two or three behind us in the line, and heard that. He took the cue and began his song. In a minute the whole line was roaring the refrain, and it broke like volleys on the night:
“Akbar! Akbar! Jimgrim Ali Higg!”
Jael Higg laughed.
“He has a fool’s luck and a lusty band of followers,” she said. “It was only because Ayisha called out that he caught me. But a fool’s luck is like a breath of wind that passes.” ”

“ At that Narayan Singh broke silence, and although he denied it afterward I know that his only motive was to get a little preliminary vengeance on Ayisha for the names she had called him. He maintains that he was “casting a stone, as it were, into a pond to see which way the ripples went.”
“Few women will refuse to follow a Pathan, when honored by his admiration,” he boomed.
I could not see her face then; because she was staring at Narayan Singh.
“Do you realize whose wife you are tampering with?” she asked him.
“Hah! Where I come from a man must guard his women if he hopes to keep them.” ”

“ And has the Lion’s seal with her?” he said at last. “Well, as old Ali Baba keeps repeating, Allah makes all things easy! It’s a little soon to talk yet, but I think we’ve got the Lion of Petra on the hip!” ”

“ The game is to listen and watch. Presently the other fellow always tells his plans or else betrays them.”
And he is no such fool as to be caught in the act of listening, or to forewarn his enemy by seeming to wish to listen.
He gave the order to march at once. Some of the men doubled up uncomfortably on the riding-camels, because of the three that had been killed, and the Bishareen fell to me.
I ranged alongside Jael Higg, with Narayan Singh on the other side of her. At that we were off, Grim leading well in advance, with Ali Baba and six men in attendance. ”