Hebron prides itself on training the artfullest thieves in Asia.

They boast of being able to steal the bed from under a sleeper without waking him.

But even the stealthiest animals go crashing away from danger, and, now that the worst of the danger lay behind, more or less panic seized all of us.
Mahommed ben Hamza refused to follow the regular track, for fear of ambush or a chance encounter in the dark.

Grim let him have his way.

They dragged the wretched Abdul Ali like a sack of corn by a winding detour, and wherever the narrow path turned sharply to avoid great rocks they skidded him at the turn until he yelled for mercy.