Then the old sheikh gave an order, and four of his men came without further ado to seize Ahmed.
"Bear me witness!" the wretched man called back to me as they dragged him off.

"I go under protest--most unwillingly!" Somebody struck him with a butt-end.

A woman's head appeared over the top of the partition, and began to jabber noisily.
Several of Anazeh's men hurled jests: the highest compliment they paid her was to call her Um-Kulsum, the mother of sin.
Anazeh beckoned to me.

He did not seem to doubt for an instant that I would follow him.
I was in no mind to wait there and be arrested by the Sikh patrol.

I wondered whether they were coming in open order, combing the countryside, or heading all together straight for a known objective; and whether in either case I could give them the slip and head back toward Jerusalem.