It may be we can help enforce Your Honor's just demands, and be recompensed accordingly ?" _"Wallahi!"_ Grim answered after a long pause.

"Who sets himself to plunder trains without my leave?
Have I been such short time in Petra that men doubt who rules here?
Have I not said the train shall pass El-Maan and come thus far?
Who dares challenge me?
Do I wait here for nothing?
Shall I be satisfied with a string of empty cars ?" The Arab turned and conferred for a moment with his four friends.
They shook their heads.
"O Lord of the Desert," he said after a minute, "none has heard of this decree.

Your Honor's messenger may have failed or have fallen into bad hands on the way.

Word has not come that you reserve this train for your own profit.

There will be fifty men at El-Maan now waiting to slay certain passengers and plunder others." Grim had evidently made up his mind and had set full sail on the course indicated.