We spent the rest of the day in arranging for the
considerable baggage that he had brought with him to be forwarded by
the camel caravan that had been sent for the purpose, and also in
business for the Sheik in Oran. We spent the night in a villa on the
outskirts of the town belonging to an old Arab who entertained us
lavishly, and who spent the evening congratulating Ahmed heartily on
having escaped from the clutches of the odious French, by no means
abashed when Ahmed pointed out that there was an odious Frenchman
present, for he dismissed me with a gesture that conveyed that my
nationality was my misfortune and not my fault, and in impressing on
him the necessity of immediately acquiring a wife or two and settling
down for the good of the tribe--all this in the intervals of drinking
coffee, listening to the most monotonous native music and watching
barbaric dances. There was one particularly well-made dancing girl that
the old man tried to induce Ahmed to buy, and he made a show of
bargaining for her--not from any real interest he took in her, but
merely to see the effect that it would have on me. But I refused to be
drawn, and as my head was reeling with the atmosphere I escaped to bed
and left him still bargaining. We started early next morning, and were
joined a few miles out of the town by a big detachment of followers.
The excitement of the day before was repeated on a very much larger
scale. It was a novel experience for me, and I can hardly describe my
feelings in the midst of that yelling horde of men, galloping wildly
round us and firing their rifles until it seemed hardly possible that
some accident would not happen. It was Ahmed's attitude that impressed
me most. He took it all quietly as his due, and when he had had enough
of it stopped it with a peremptory authority that was instantly obeyed,
and apologised for the exuberant behaviour of his children. It was a
new Ahmed to me; the boy I had known for four years seemed suddenly
transformed into a man who made me feel very young. In France I had
naturally always rather played elder brother, but here Ahmed was on his
own ground and the roles seemed likely to be reversed. The arrival at
the Sheik's camp was everything that the most lavish scenic producer
could have wished. Though I had heard of it both from my father and
Ahmed I was not quite prepared for the splendour with which the Sheik
surrounded himself. With Eastern luxury was mingled many European
adjuncts that added much to the comfort of camp life. The meeting
between the Sheik and Ahmed was most touching. I had a very happy time
and left with regret. The charm of the desert took hold of me then and
has never left me since. But I had to return to my medical studies. I
left Ahmed absorbed in his life and happier than I had ever seen him in
Paris.