8/17 Golden opportunity to pick them off, at ease! [Footnote 1: Arabs divide the world into two categories; themselves, and _Ajam_, or all non-Arabs.] A long, ragged line of desert men appeared, in burnouses and _benishes_, or loose floating garments, and all heavily armed. The last bleeding rays of the sunset flickered on the silver-mounted rifles as they spat fire into the heat-quivering air. Two men grunted, flailed wild arms and sank, with the water about them tinged red as the sunset. Another sank face downward, a moment, then with only one arm, continued to ply for land, leaving a crimson trail behind. |