"If Ali Higg is prowling and should swoop down on you who would bargain then ?" By that time it was light enough to see clearly at close range, and Narayan Singh caught my eye behind her back.

I nodded.

If there were any likelihood of Ali Higg being on the prowl why should she be in such a hurry to make terms?
Right then Grim called a halt--none too soon for the camels--in a semicircular space protected by a low cliff that might have been a quarry-face two thousand years ago; what might have been a pit was all filled in by drifted sand.

But he had his own mat spread on the top of the cliff, whence he could keep an eye on the surrounding country, and gave none of the prisoners a chance to talk to him.
Nobody helped Jael Higg from her camel, for she jumped down like an acrobat and stood staring about her at Ali Baba's gang, and being stared at as they went about the business of off-loading the complaining beasts.

I saw Ayisha get out of the _shibriyah,_ face around slowly, and meet Jael's eyes.
Neither woman spoke for a minute, or made any sign, but you could almost see the alternating current of scorn and hate that passed between them.