Suddenly, the sheikh broke in on Dick's labored
recital with a query that gave the conversation an extraordinary turn.
"If you have so many remarkable things in your own land, Effendi, what
do you seek here?" he asked, waving a lean hand in comprehensive sweep.
"This is no place for town-bred men like the Hakim Effendi, nor for two
such women as those who travel with us. You have ridden three hundred
kilometers across the desert, and for what? To find five hills, says
the Hakim. May Allah be praised that rich men should wish to spend so
much money for so foolish a reason!"
"But the Hakim Effendi believes that there is an oasis marked by five
hills somewhere in this district, and, were he to find it, we would
dig, and perhaps discover some ancient articles buried there, articles
of small value to the world generally, but highly prized by those who
understand their history."
"I know this desert as you know those streets you have been telling me
of," said Abdur Kad'r, "and there is no oasis marked by five hills.
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