"LABBAYK!" As Nissr slowed near the oasis, the frightened Arabs--who had been at their _ghanda_, or mid-day meal--swarmed into the open.

They left their mutton, _cous-cous_, date-paste, and lentils, their chibouques with perfumed vapor and their keef-smoking, and manifested extreme fear by outcries in shrill voices.

Under the shadows of the palms, that stood like sentinels against the blistering sands, they gathered, with wild cries.
No fighting-men, these.

The glasses disclosed that they were mostly old men, women, children.

Young men were few.