ABSTRACT
Wilfrid, to ensure a start to-day, had the camels brought into the town over-night, and loaded the first thing in the morning, and sent them on, with orders to wait for us just out of sight of Deyr, over the brow of the hill. He then went to the Serai and announced our departure. The Pasha affected at first extreme surprise to hear that we were leaving him, although wTe had told him of our intention yesterday, and asked in which direction we were going. " We are starting/' Wilfrid said, " on the Tudmur road, and if we do not come across the Anazeh, whom of course we should like to see, we shall go on as far as that town, and so to Damascus. We think that perhaps the Consul Beg has been delayed at Aleppo, and may have gone straight to Tudmur to save time, and that we may find him there."—Huseyn. " But the road is not safe ; it is impossible you should go alone. You would not find your way; there is no water, and the country is inhabited only by robbers."—Wilfrid. "Yet we came through the Jezireh alone, and no harm happened to us. We are well armed and well mounted ; and you have told us that the Anazeh are far away, fighting the Ro&la in the south. Common robbers would not venture to attack us."—Huseyn. "You
must wait at least for the caravan which is going to-morrow. I will send for the chief men in it, and they shall be answerable for your safety."— Wilfrid. " Unfortunately our camels have already marched, and if we do not set out soon we shall not overtake them."—JHuseyn (to his servants). " Send for the Tudmuri, and tell them to come to me at once."
