Page 343 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

304 TRAVELS IN OMAN. [CH.

Bedowins, who had received intelligence that
the Wahhabis were lurking around, I left the

village where we had halted alone, with iny
gun, in search of game. Scarcely had I-rode

three miles from the walls when, suddenly
turning an angle of the rocks, I found myself
within a few yards of a group of about a dozen

horsemen, who lay on the ground, basking
listlessly in the sun. To turn my horse’s

head and away, was the work scarcely of an
instant; but hardly had I done so ere the
whole party were also in their saddles, in full

cry after me. Several balls whizzed past my
head, which Sayyid acknowledged by bound­

ing forward like an antelope. He was accus­
tomed to these matters; and their desire to
possess him unharmed, alone prevented my

pursuers from bringing him down. As we
approached the town, I looked behind me.

A Sheikh, better mounted than his followers,
was in advance, his dress and long hair

streaming behind him, while he poised his
long spear on high, apparently in doubt

whether he was sufficiently within range to
pierce me. My good stars decided that he
was not; for, reining up his horse, he rejoined