An hour afterwards the scheikh came in person to pay his respects.

We reclined on the steps of the hall; and while the men smoked and drank coffee, a conversation of a very uninteresting kind was kept up, the dragoman acting as interpreter.

At length the scheikh seemed seized with the idea that we might possibly be tired with our journey.

He took his leave, and offered unasked to send us two men as sentries, which he did.

Thus we could go to rest in perfect safety under the open sky in the midst of a Turkish village.
But before we retired to rest, my companion was seized with the rather original idea that we should pursue our journey at midnight.
He asked me, indeed, if I was afraid, but at the same time observed, that it would be much safer for us to act upon his suggestion, as no one would suspect our departure by such a dangerous road at midnight.