The major seemed disposed to call for
an encore, but Janina silenced his forthcoming remarks with a sharp
nudge. All at once, old Bara Miyan removed the amber stem of the
water-pipe from his bearded lips and said:
"Now, White Sheik, thou hast eaten of our humble food, and seen
our dancing. Thou hast heard our song. Wilt thou also see jugglers,
wrestlers, trained apes from Yemen? Or wilt thou take the _kaylulah_
(siesta)? Or doth it please thee now to speak of the gifts that my
heart offers thee and thine?"
"Let us speak of the gifts, O Bara Miyan," answered the Master, while
Leclair listened intently and all the Arabs gave close heed. "We have
not many hours more to stay in this paradise of thine. We must be
away to our own Feringistan, in our flying house. Let us speak of the
gifts. But first, I would ask thee something."
"Speak, in Allah's name, and it shall be answered thee!"
"The salt is still in thy stomach for us?"
"It is still in my stomach."
"Thou dost swear that, O Bara Miyan, by a great oath?"
"By the rising of the stars, which is a great oath!"
"And by the greatest oath, the honor of thy women?"
"Yea, Frank, by the honor of my women! But thou and thine, too, have
covenants to keep.
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