He was knocked down, and his food snatched from his hands; but
the boy had his lungs, and his screams brought Idris-es-Saier himself
upon the three men who had attacked him.
"For whom do you come?" asked Idris, as he thrust the prisoners aside.
"For Joseppi, the Greek," answered the boy, and Idris pointed to the
corner where Feversham lay. The boy advanced, holding out his empty
hands as though explaining how it was that he brought no food. But he
came quite close, and squatting at Feversham's side continued to explain
with words. And as he spoke he loosed a gazelle skin which was fastened
about his waist beneath his jibbeh, and he let it fall by Feversham's
side. The gazelle skin contained a chicken, and upon that Feversham and
Trench breakfasted and dined and supped. An hour later they were allowed
to pass out of the zareeba and make their way to the Nile. They walked
slowly and with many halts, and during one of these Trench said:--
"We can talk here."
Below them, at the water's edge, some of the prisoners were unloading
dhows, others were paddling knee-deep in the muddy water. The shore was
crowded with men screaming and shouting and excited for no reason
whatever.
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