Ali Shah al Khassib openly took the part of Abdul Ali.

A dozen men demanded to know how much he had been paid to do it.

Finally, Suliman ben Saoud beckoned me.

I got up, and with Mahommed ben Hamza at my heels I followed him to a narrow door in a side wall that opened on a stone stairway leading to the ramparts.

Anazeh' came too, growling like a hungry bear, and after a couple of blood-curdling threats hurled at Suliman ben Saoud's back he took up position in the open door, facing the crowd, and dared any one to try to follow.