But as he rose he looked at the man who drove it, and saw that while his jellab was drawn forward over his face to protect it from the sun, his bare legs showed of an ebony blackness against the sand.

The donkey-driver was a negro.

The Arab sat down again and waited with an air of the most complete indifference for the stranger to descend to him.

He did not even move or turn when he heard the negro's feet treading the sand close behind him.
"Salam aleikum," said the negro, as he stopped.

He carried a long spear and a short one, and a shield of hide.