Page:Andrew Klarmann - The Fool of God (1913).pdf/22

Rh and kicked out with its hind feet together, saucily and deliberately; and thus disposing of its tormentor with commendable decision and determination, it scampered away with both its apology of a tail and its caricature of a head raised high in the air.

The kick of the camel was better suited to bring Rachor back to his senses than any amount of argument and speculation. It was not a comfortably applied remedy, he thought in the first moment of his grim self-inspection; yet he did not fail to respond to an inspiration of gratitude towards the lusty and trusty beast. He realized that he had well deserved the lesson.

But Merob also presently came back towards him, somewhat diffidently and cautiously at first, and moved around him in a circle several times. Rachor was thoroughly familiar with the fine scent no less than with the cunning of the camel, and, in particular, with these well-fostered traits of old Merob, which had often before been a friend and companion to him on his journeyings through the deserts of Shur and Sin. He knew that Merob was disquieted about something more important than the expectation of a compliment in kind in return for the wholesome kick. Accordingly Rachor arose out of the sand, shook himself like a hen arising from a dust bath, and laid a hand on Merob’s nose. The beast jerked the hand aside and pushed Rachor forward with its head, out of the camp. There Rachor espied another dromedary rider far away towards the northwest, in the direction opposite that of the Midianite whom his companions were following.

This newly discovered rider must be the kidnaper, for the other had been seen the moment he came out of hiding and made good an ostensible escape,