Page:On the Desert - Recent Events in Egypt.djvu/270

256 upon us alone and unarmed, while he and his men were armed to the teeth. But he would answer "Why were you not armed? It is the business of every man to be ready to defend himself on all occasions, and if he is not, and suffers for it, he has nobody but himself to blame."

With such a theory, it is not strange that robbery should be regarded not only as honorable, but as above all others the profession of a gentleman, as is the profession of arms in civilized countries. The Bedaween hire the Fellaheen to cultivate their fields — that is work fit for slaves; but for the chief of a tribe, the one pursuit in life that fires his ambition is to mount the finest Arabian steed, to poise the longest and sharpest lance, and ride abroad, like a knight of chivalry, in search of adventures. When one thinks of all this, he must feel that it would be almost an honor to be robbed by such a hero!

And yet I fear our dragoman did not take this view of the case: for the incident of this morning produced a deep impression on him, and he renewed his entreaties to us to keep together. But it was hard to keep Dr. Post in line: for just then he spied some of the wild flowers of Palestine, and at once gave a dig at his camel, and started off in pursuit. The vicious old creature did not appreciate the claims of science, and roared her disapprobation. But her master forced her on, and then brought her back, and we straggled on together. Our attention was soon diverted to the beauty of the country we were entering. The hills broadened down and the valleys rose, till the undulations were like the long swells of the ocean. Gradually the landscape assumed an aspect of fertility. Rising over a gentle ascent, behold a field of barley that was fresh and green! How beautiful it looked in contrast with the desolation over which we had passed! There were also more