Again I looked for the old gentleman whom I had come to see, and whispered my surprise at not beholding him.
Rashid again replied: 'He is unpopular.' Returning to the house with me, Rashid arranged my bed; put candle, matches, cigarettes within my reach; fastened the shutters of two windows; and retired, informing me that he and Suleyman were sleeping at the dwelling of the headman of the place.
I had got into my bed upon the floor when there came a knocking on the solid wooden shutters which Rashid had closed.

I went and opened one of them a little way.

It was moonlight, but the window looked into the gloom of olive trees.

A voice out of the shadows questioned: 'Is it thou, the Englishman ?' It was the owner of the land, who then reproached me in heartbroken tones because I had not let him know the hour of my arrival, that he and his three sons might have gone forth upon the road to meet me.

The owners of the place where now I lodged were his chief enemies.