II
1.We continued our journey unmolested at a slow gallop，and did not pause till it was broad day.Then we dismounted，and walked by our mares for a mile or so.Shortly afterwards，four horsemen coming from the hills appeared on our right.They had long spears，clubs hanging from their saddles，and flint pistols and daggers in their belts.
2.It was a pretty sight to see these four sons of the desert bearing down upon us.At first their pace was the ordinary desert jog-trot.Greater speed，however，was necessary to catch us，and，as they came nearer，they galloped as fast as they could to get before us.The horses were at full stretch，and the riders，with theirshort stirrups and high saddles，seemed to sit on the tops of their horses as if on seats，ready to spring.
3.They reached the road about four hundred yards in front of us，reined up their horses，and planted themselves right in our way.We brought our horses to a walking pace，and prepared for the worst.They shook their spears，andleaned forward in their saddles，as if about to charge；but they saw our shining weapons，and paused.
4.We approached till we were within eighty yards of the enemy，and halted.I said，“Who are you，and what do you want？”
One of them replied with a sharp bark，“You aretrespassersyou dogs.”
on our land，and we will make you repent it，I said，repeating one of their own proverbs，“Violent language never yet tore a shirt.I can shoot the four of you through the head in four seconds；and if you move one step towards us，I will shoot your horses to begin with.”
5.They did not like the prospect；and after they had exchanged words among themselves，one of themsaid：“No man has ever presumed to pass through our territory without leave；but if you surrender the horses you are riding，we will let you pass.”
“Let there be no fooling，”I replied.“Since the day that Abraham your father，of blessed memory，passed along this same road，till this day，the way has been open.We are here to injure no man；but if you attempt to stop us，your blood be upon your own heads.”
6.My companion said，“Let me empty two of their saddles.”
“No，”said I；“if they attack us，we will shoot their horses first.”
One of them then said，“We belong to the greatAnazi tribe，which makes pasha‘scannot let you pass.”
To this I replied，“Your sheik and I are friends，and I know his brother，who spends much time in Damascus.I have just established a school at Karyetein，and I am only anxious to befriend the Bedawin；but you must give way.My friend wants to shoot two of you to begin with.We are the stronger，but I am loth to harm you.I now give you five minutes to make up your minds，and if you do not move off in that time，may Allah be merciful to you.”
7.My companion，whose horse was restive，dismounted，
and stood with his gun ready.I sat in the saddle，with my watch in my hand.“Four minutes are now gone，”I said，“and the fifth is half sped.”A few seconds later，I put my watch into my pocket，and as I lifted my gun to my shoulder they turned and fled.
8.They galloped along the path before us，and we galloped after as if in pursuit.Several times they turned，and waited as if to stop us；but we galloped straight at them，putting up our guns to our shoulders.
They then galloped off in a wide circle，riding round us at a respectful distance，for some time，and finally they took up their position at a little hill on the left near our path.As we came near，they rode round the hill，out of sight；but one of them appeared suddenly from behind the hill，and discharging his blunderbuss at me，fled at full gallop with his companions.
9.We hurried to the spot from which the shot had come；but the four horsemen were already a quarter of a mile away，and going at a tremendous pace.My companion dismounted，and sent half a dozen bulletsafter them；but the distance was too great for effectiveshooting.He was very vexed that we had let them off，especially when he knew that I had been hit.
10.I had had a marvellous escape.The gun fired was a short，wide-mouthed blunderbuss.Such guns are charged with a quarter of a pound of powder and a pound and a half of pellets，slugs，nails，bits of iron，and split bullets.The discharge tore up the ground round us，and it seemed to sweep my mare almost off her feet.
She had received only a few scratches.I was not quite so fortunate.I had a slight wound in the left hand，and two in the breast，neither of which was serious.
11.This adventure was all over in less time than it takes to read the account of it，and we continued our journey in the increasing heat，and alighted at the new school in Karyetein at eleven o’clock，having ridden thewhole distance from Palmyrahours，interruptions included.