Then, having learnt his
news, they could decide on the next step to be taken. Perhaps, if
Abdullah came, they would be able to rejoin the expedition without
further trouble.
After Hussain's departure, Royson and Abdur Kad'r disposed themselves
to rest. Utilizing camel cloths as _tentes d'abri_, they snatched a
couple of hours of uneasy sleep; but the heat and insects drove even
the seasoned sheikh to rebellion, and by midday both men preferred the
hot air and sunshine to the sweltering shade of the stuffy cloths.
Irene was right when she said that Dick had made a great advance with
his Arabic. He was master of many words of every-day use, and had also
learnt a number of connected phrases. Abdur Kad'r knew some French.
These joint attainments enabled them to carry on a conversation.
The Arab, with the curiosity of all men who do not read books, sought
information as to life in big cities, and Royson amused himself by
depicting the marvels of London. A limited vocabulary, no less than the
dense ignorance of his guide on such topics as railways, electricity,
paved streets, cabs, and other elements of existence in towns, rendered
the descriptions vague.
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