Bedouin Tribes of the Euphrates Vol 2 - The Search For Mecca

CH. XX.] A Panic and Retreat. 119
dawn Avlien every tent was struck, and a precipitate
retreat commenced across the hills. AVe sent Mohammed
to the Sheykh's tent, to ask what was going
to be done, and all the answer was that he must
join Jedaan, who was somewhere " out there " to the
north. The Goniussa were in such a huny that we
soon found ourselves left alone ; but AVilfrid, who had
ridden to some risino- o-round in the direction of the
reported
enemy, coming back without having seen
anything, we determined to have our coffee comfortably,
and made Hanna light his fire while the
camels were loading. He was rather flurried, l)ut
did as he was told. To the north, guarding the
line of retreat, we could still see parties of horsemen
occupying the heights, and there was no danger
of our not catching up our friends. We were very
unwilling to
out of our way, Ijut
go after them, for their march is quite
the Sleb have disappeared with
the rest, and we had no choice but to follow. Besides,
we are still hankering after Beteyen's mare,
which we should be sorry altogether to give up
hopes of.
As we were sittins; drinkino; our coffee with the
camels just loaded, a horseman appeared
from the
south, and for a moment we thought it one of the
enemy, but it proved to be Meshiir who had ventured
out alone to reconnoitre. He had seen nothing,
but advised us not to stay any longer so far from
the main body, and then rode away to join the
men on the hills. So we mounted and followed the