The Sheik

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.