Ahmed and his son defended themselves manfully,
but what could two men, surprised in sleep, do against a dozen? In five
minutes all was over. The assailants vanished in a cloud of dust, and
Ahmed, who had been struck down in the rush, recovered his senses, to
find camels, baggage, belt, money, everything gone, and Mustapha
wounded and motionless on the earth beside him.
Ahmed thought him dead. They were alone in the desert, a hundred miles
from home, without food or water, and with a groan of despair he sat
down beside his son's body, bowed his head, and waited until death
should come to him also. An Arab believes in fate, and gives up once
for all when misfortune occurs.
But Mustapha stirred, and Ahmed at once sprang up. There was nothing he
could do for the poor boy, except to chafe and rub his hands; but this
was something, for presently Mustapha revived enough to speak.
"Are they gone?" he asked.
"Yes, the accursed ones, they are gone, with all our goods and with
Solimin! The Prophet's curse light upon them!" And passing from despair
to fury, Ahmed threw sand upon his head, and flung himself on the
ground in helpless rage.
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