Three times the gourds were filled, and emptied.
"Now hand me down that water bag." This was half filled, and then, exhausted with their work, they threw themselves down and slept for some hours.

When they awoke, the sun was setting.
"Bring up the horses, Zaki.

Let them drink as much as they like." The gourds had each to be filled six times, before the animals were satisfied.

The riders then took another deep drink, ate a handful of dates, and mounted.
"We are safe now, and only have to fear a band of marauding Arabs; and it would be hard luck, were we to fall in with them.

We had better ride slowly for the first hour or so.