There were about two-score of them, and they rode like the wind in a half circle, with the obvious intention of surrounding us.

Grim led straight on.
They rode around and around us once or twice before the man in the striped head-gear called a halt.

He seemed disturbed by Grim's nonchalance, and asked our business with not more than half a challenge in his voice.
"Water," Grim answered.

"Did Allah make no wells in these parts ?" It doesn't pay to do as much as even to suggest your real reason for visiting an Arab village, for they won't believe you in any case.
"What have you in the _shibriyah ?"_ "Come and see." The Sheikh Mahommed Abbas drew near alone, suspiciously, with his cocked rifle laid across his lap.

His men began moving again, circling around us slowly--I suppose with the idea of annoying us; for that is an old trick, to irritate your intended victim until some ill-considered word or gesture gives excuse for an attack.