acrossasiaminoro00chiluoft

ON THE ROAD FOR MISSIS 359
the plain in the south-east, violet with a cap of snow,
were the Amanus mountains. Before us, in the east,
were the blue hills of Jebel Nur, and from north-east to
west the snows of Doloraan Dagh, Ala Dagh, and the
Taurus. The spring was at full tide this second week
in February. Beside the road and in the fields were
crocus, anemone, iris, peony, and many unknown bulb
plants, and here and there the blue of scilla.
As I had expected, the duty of pack-horse driver
was quite outside Ibrahim's view of what should be
required of him. He had so arranged the Consul's
baggage, and also determined the quantity, that he
was able to find a comfortable seat between the
saddle-bags. He rode looking much the master of
the party. In the buoyant morning air the Consul
and I walked fast.
" We are going too fast for Mustapha," I said,
remembering how impossible it had been to get
Ighsan out of the traditional country gait.
" Never mind," replied the Consul, " Ibrahim will
bring him along, you may be sure." It was a faith
not easy to share, but watching the two I saw Ibrahim
in the rear cracking a riding- whip from time to time,
and Mustapha stepping out as I am sure he had
never done before, and urging his horse forward with
blows. I was glad that Ibrahim had spoken of
Mustapha as his friend, and that the other had been
proud of the title. They looked now like slave and
slave-driver, and when they overtook us, while we
examined a washed-out section of the railway line,
I saw with forebodings that Mustapha was in a
lather of perspiration and even more surly than the
occasion seemed to warrant.
But soon we halted for lunch at a well beside the
road, with a low ridge of sprouting asphodel behind
it, and here Mustapha's spirits revived. Now came
into view another aspect of the many-sided Ibrahim.
In a few minutes he had a meal ready—a meal, in
itself and service, becoming to consular dignity. On
the stone well-head as table was spread a spotless
table-cloth, set with table-napkins, polished silver.