He squatted, facing me, upon the ground, his men behind him.

The twigs and leaves of olives overhead spread a filigree of moving shade upon their puckered faces.

They were evidently much perturbed in mind.
I asked them for how much they would consent to sell those trees--showing the three I wished to fell to clear a space for building.
'The freehold, meanest thou ?' inquired their spokesman anxiously.

'Not for five hundred pounds.

But we would sell a share.' 'I want no share.