We had asked him to sketchthe genesis of the Arab
movement: and his reply illuminated hischaracter. Some of the trunks were a foot
through:their height might be twenty feet.
On our part, I was playing for effect, watching,
criticizing him. Down some part of itwater flowed for an hour or two, or even for a
day or two, every somany years.
The surviving Arabs in Halis army were, on his own
confession,openly disloyal to Turkey. Particularly in Mecca andJidda public opinion
was against an Arab state.
SO I WENT DOWN TO ARABIA TO SEE AND CONSIDER ITS
GREAT MEN. Storrs intolerant brain seldom stooped to company. Some of the trunks
were a foot through:their height might be twenty feet. Abdulla smoked a cigarette as
reward for his exertions.
He was of middle height, thin, andlooking already
more than his thirty-seven years. He had a spare blackbeard and very delicate hands.
Ali would not let me start till after sunset, lest any of his followerssee me leave
the camp. Sherif Abdulla, the second son of the old man ofMecca, was reported just
arriving in the town. The parchment had stretched in the damp air ofJidda. He it was
we had tomeet; so our coming was auspiciously timed.
Besides, we were his guests; and the
splendidhospitality of the East was near his spirit.
At this moment the telephone rang: the Grand Sherif
wanted to speak toAbdulla. The Turks wouldenter Mecca over his dead
body.
Astute he certainly was, but not greatly enough to
convinceus always of his sincerity. Hethought they would bring pressure on the Porte
to secure the release oftheir nationals. Tafas was a Hazimi, of the Beni Salem
branch of Harb, and so not ongood terms with the Masruh. The fidelity of
road-companions was most dear to Arab tribesmen. Consequently, some of the licensees
inHejaz regretted the coming of a native ruler.
We had asked him to sketchthe genesis of the Arab
movement: and his reply illuminated hischaracter.
So he watched us, and played throughus to the
British gallery. The lattices andwall-returns deadened all reverberation of
voice.
Such short voyages on warships were
deliciousinterludes for us passengers.
CHAPTER XMoored in Rabegh lay the NORTHBROOK, an
Indian Marine ship.
Some appeared to resent a war which allowed
outsiders to thrust intotheir business.
The Beduins were the only fighting men the Sherif
had got; and on theirhelp the revolt depended.
His eyes had a confirmed twinkle; andthough only
thirty-five, he was putting on flesh.
So they agreed at once, and beganto prepare against
my return some official shelf for me. Judgement was based oncustom, by quoting from
a great body of remembered precedent. Our ears ached withnoise; but Abdulla
beamed.
They drank about five gallons each, for they had
beenwatered at Rabegh a day back.