Many of my men were sullenly listening to my reply, which was that we should start in company with Ibrahim.

The men immediately turned their backs and swaggered insolently to the town, muttering something that I could not distinctly understand.

I gave orders directly that no man should sleep in the town, but that all should be at their posts by the luggage under the tree that I occupied.

At night several men were absent, and were with difficulty brought from the town by the vakeel.

The whole of the night was passed by the rival parties quarrelling and fighting.