We strained our eyes in vain; even with the help of good spy-glasses we could discover nothing, and already began to suspect our escort of having cried "wolf" without reason, or merely to convince us that we had not taken them with us for nothing.

But in about a quarter of an hour we could dimly discern figures emerging, one by one, from the far, far distance.

Our Bedouins prepared for the combat, and advised us to take the opposite road while they advanced to encounter the enemy.

But all the gentlemen wished to take part in the expedition, and joined the Bedouins, lusting for battle.

The whole cavalcade rode off at a rapid pace, leaving Count Berchtold and myself behind.