They therefore prepared for a stay of some hours.

The pack horses were unloaded, and the saddles taken off the other animals.
Half an hour later a party of twelve men, travelling in the same direction as themselves, also halted and turned in among the trees.
The man who was apparently the leader of the party came across to where they were sitting.
"We do not disturb you, I hope, brothers ?" he said.

"The grove is large enough for us all.

I see that you are traders, like myself." "By no means," Surajah replied.

"The wood is open to all, and even were it not, we should be discourteous, indeed, did we refuse to share our shade with others.