"How much?"
"Twenty-five pounds English paid into the hand of the driver at my journey's
end, and as much more into the hand of the camel-sheik here, to be paid when
the driver returns."
This was royal payment, and the sheik, who knew that he would get his
commission on this deposit, stirred in Dick's behalf.
"For scarcely one night's journey--fifty pounds. Land and wells and good trees
and wives to make a man content for the rest of his days. Who speaks?" said
Dick.
"I," said a voice. "I will go--but there is no going from the camp."
"Fool! I know that a camel can break his knee-halter, and the sentries do not
fire if one goes in chase. Twenty-five pounds and another twenty-five pounds.
But the beast must be a good Bisharin; I will take no baggage-camel."
Then the bargaining began, and at the end of half an hour the first deposit was
paid over to the sheik, who talked in low tones to the driver.
Dick heard the latter say: "A little way out only. Any baggage-beast will
serve. Am I a fool to waste my cattle for a blind man?"
"And though I cannot see"--Dick lifted his voice a little--"yet I carry that
which has six eyes, and the driver will sit before me. If we do not reach the
English troops in the dawn he will be dead.
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