This report was
actually signed and sealed by the Bishop and by the Wali, and forwarded,
unknown to us, to Constantinople and London. Naturally Richard's few
enemies at home tried to make capital out of the accident.
The whole day after the brutal attack upon us we had to do all the work
of our tents and the cooking and attend to our horses ourselves. Even if
we had wished to move away from Nazareth we could not have done so with
four of our servants disabled and helpless. Dr. Varden and myself were
entirely occupied with the suffering men. Richard and Mr. Tyrwhitt-Drake
took charge of the tents and horses, and the doctor sent me a woman to
help to cook, as it was necessary to prepare soup and invalid food for
the wounded, who, in consequence of their injuries, suffered from fever.
Richard's sword arm was injured by stones, and the sprained muscles were
not thoroughly cured for two years afterwards. Besides this, we had to
be prepared for a night attack of revenge. And what with the whispering
of the Turkish soldiers, who had come from St. Jean d'Acre, the evident
excitement prevailing in the town, and the barking of dogs, the nights
were not peaceful enough to admit of sleep.
On May 10 we left Nazareth, and every one came out to see our departure.
Our exit was over a steep country composed of slabs of slippery rock, but
we soon got into a better district, over flowery plains, now and then
varied by difficult passes and tracks.
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