Finally he managed to stammer: "_M'alme_, in our tongue we have a proverb: 'There are two things colder than ice--a young old man and an old young man.' There is still a colder thing--the soul that betrays the Hidden City!" "Speak Rrisa! There is no escape for thee!" "My sheik, I obey," quavered the unfortunate orderly, shaken with a palsy of fear.

Without a quiver, the Arab would rush a machine-gun position or face a bayonet-charge; but this betrayal of his kin struck at the vitals of his faith.

Still, the Master's word was law even above Al Koran.

With trembling lips he made answer: "This city--spare me uttering its name, Master!--lies many hours' journey, even by this Eagle of the Sky, beyond the Iron Mountains that no man of the Feringi hath ever seen.

It lies beyond the Great Sand Barrier, in a valley of the Inner Mountains; yea, at the very heart of Ruba el Khali." "I hear thee, Rrisa.