But they did not
get away unscathed. Slipping out of their saddles, four of the
_Aphrodite's_ crew opened fire, and brought five of the robber
tribesmen headlong to earth, while the sixth saved his skin by falling
with his wounded camel and skulking unnoticed to the hills along the
water-course. As for the remainder, the flanking parties bolted before
Abdur Kad'r or Abdullah could get within striking distance, and from
that hour no sensible Hadendowa came near the Well of Moses for many a
month.
In fact, Royson found that his own men were already standing quietly in
a group, waiting for orders, and the two detachments of caravan Arabs
were coming in from the wings in accordance with his preconcerted plan.
Some of the bolting escort were returning. They looked shamefaced when
they passed von Kerber lying dead on the ground. One of them, a Hadji,
who wore the green turban and black cloak of a pilgrim to Mecca, began
to murmur an explanation to Royson, but the giant Effendi gave him such
a glance of scorn and anger that the man made off, lest the evil from
which he had fled might yet befall him.
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