After starting, we cantered for three unbroken hours.
After a short
fight,Feisal had broken off, yielded his ground, and was retreating here. So in
a little while wewere populous, if hardly imposing in detail. After him
streamed the Ageyl and theAtban, the men of Ibn Shefia, the Harb and Biasha. We
were effectually roused, whether we prayed or cursed. The patrols were in
touch; and an assault wasdaily expected, but as regularly delayed.
This
readiness was an opportuneconsolation: worse news came along next
day.
Garlandsarchitectural efforts about the town became impressive. We were
effectually roused, whether we prayed or cursed.
The mountaineers,
half-nakedfootmen, had grown few. Feisal and I lay back and laughed: then we
went tosee what could be done to save the town. The routine of our life in camp
was simple.
The sunset prayer wasat times public, though Feisal was not
outwardly very pious.
The others had fallen back up WadiYenbo for
water.
Feisal, quiet as ever, welcomed me with a smile until he could finishhis
dictation.
It seemed ashame to leave him wasting in the middle of the
wilderness.
Very rarely he would play chess, with theunthinking directness of a
fencer, and brilliantly. So they turned back: and that night, I believe, the
Turkslost their war. And why did you retire to the camp-ground behind us during
thebattle?
Garland was engineer-in-chief andchief adviser. By God, said one,
those are the realguns: the Importance of their noise!
TheJuheina were active
in their flank position from Wadi Yenbo.
Feisal therefore rushed Zeid outto
Masahali in Wadi Yenbo to make preparations. Most of the six thousand present
were mountedmen of substance.
It seemed ashame to leave him wasting in the
middle of the wilderness.
Villageshigher up Wadi Yenbo were cool enough to grow
grapes. I learned much ofthe men and parties in the Hejaz from his lips. After
sun-down the town quivered with suppressed excitement.
The Harbof the north
were suppliant to them for preservation of their palm-groves.
When his drums
began to beat, the camels were loaded hurriedly.
His brother, with half the
manhood of thetribe, was just entering the gate.
We ate half-a-dozen dates,
afrigid comfort, and curled up on the wet carpet.
Before Wilson arrived the
centre of Turkish gravity changed abruptly.
Also it was near Yenbo, whichcould
easily feed him there with munitions and supplies. Feisal with a gaspingstare
at him said, How? Besides, the tribesmen would then understand how to take me.
Crocker, her captain, was very anxious to let offthose itching guns.
Everything
was very free, verygood-tempered, and not at all dignified.
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