Then we dismounted and lay down in the shadow of some rocks.
It wanted still two hours before the sun would set.
Suleyman came on us, and dismounted at a call from me.
'What is the noise down there ?' he questioned, looking at the village with that coolness, like indifference, habitual to his face when meeting problems of importance.
'They will not let us touch the water--curse their fathers!' growled Rashid.

'Heard anyone the like of such inhospitality?
It would but serve them right if we destroyed their houses.' Suleyman screwed up his eyes, the better to survey the crowd of villagers below, who now sat guard around the spring, and murmured carelessly: 'It is evident that thou hast angered them, O son of rashness.

We shall do well to wait before approaching them again with our polite request.' Therewith he stretched his length upon the ground, with a luxurious sigh, and would, I think, have gone to sleep, had not Rashid, conceiving himself blamed, thought necessary to relate in full the whole adventure.
'What else could man have done ?' he asked defiantly.

'Say in what respect, however trifling, did I act unwisely ?' 'By Allah, thou didst nothing wrong, and yet thou mightest have done better, since thy efforts led to failure,' said the sage, benignly.
'Thou art a soldier yet in thought, and thy one method is to threaten.
If that avails not, thou art helpless.

There are other ways.' 'I offered money,' cried Rashid indignantly.