not on his own terms but on my own. Perhaps, however, you wish to try
conclusions with him again?"

The deep silence which followed this inquiry seemed to indicate that no
such desire animated the Emir's listeners, and the old man smiled
benignly upon his audience and went on.

"There must be no more disputing of my authority, either expressed or
by implication. I am now prepared to go forth against him taking with
me forty lancers."

Instantly there was a protest against this; the number was inadequate,
they said.

"In his fortieth year our Prophet came to a momentous decision,"
continued the Emir, unheeding the interruption, "and I take a spear
with me for every year of the Prophet's life, trusting that Allah will
add to our number, at the prophet's intervention, should such an
augmentation prove necessary. Get together then the forty _oldest_
men under my command. Let them cumber themselves with nothing in the
way of offence except one tall spear each, and see that every man is
provided with water and dates for twenty days' sustenance of horse and
man in the desert."

The Emir smiled as he placed special emphasis on the word "oldest," and
the young men departed abashed to obey his orders.

Next morning Count Herbert von Schonburg saw near his camp by the
water-holes a small group of horsemen standing motionless in the
desert, their lances erect, butt downward, resting on the sand, the