In short, it was imperative that we should go at once to the Druze mountain.

What were our feelings when we suddenly bethought us that there was danger in that region for an Arab knight! Must we then part from our beloved, from our souls' companion?
Suleyman declared that we had wept like babes at such a prospect.

No, that must never be; our grief would kill us.

We had been obliged to think of some contrivance by which our hearts' delight might bear us company without much risk, and with the help of Allah we had hit upon a splendid plan, yet simple: That he should lay aside his lance and armour, dress as a Christian, and become our cook.
'Why need he seem a Christian ?' asked Rashid.
'Because all cooks who go with English travellers are Christians,' was the earnest answer, 'and because no man would ever think to find a Bedawi beneath a Christian's cloak.' 'A person of my master's standing ought to have a cook,' murmured Rashid, as one who thought aloud.
Never have I seen such horror in the face of man as then convulsed the features of the desert knight.

He, a cook! He, the descendant of I know not whom, to wear the semblance of a heathen and degraded townsman! Rather than that he would encounter twenty spear-points.