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FORTY STRIPES SAVE ONE.
The bells that rang were not the bells of Hamley; they were part of no vision or hallucination, and they drew David out of his chamber into the night.

A little group of three stood sharply silhouetted against the moonlight, and towering above them was the spare, commanding form of Ebn Ezra Bey.

Three camels crouched near, and beside them stood a Nubian lad singing to himself the song of the camel-driver: "Fleet is thy foot: thou shalt rest by the Etl tree; Water shalt thou drink from the blue-deep well; Allah send His gard'ner with the green bersim, For thy comfort, fleet one, by the Etl tree.
As the stars fly, have thy footsteps flown Deep is the well, drink, and be still once more; Till the pursuing winds panting have found thee And, defeated, sink still beside thee-- By the well and the Etl tree." For a moment David stood in the doorway listening to the low song of the camel-driver.

Then he came forward.