not judge of distances correctly, and I was several times startled by dark objects, appearing to me to be gigantic and far away, but which I found were in reality insignificant in size, and so close to me as to be within reach of my riding-whip.
We were going on in single file, and I was immediately behind the kawass. I was so tired of trying in vain not to lose sight of him, that I said to Simeon, "Oblige me by riding forward, and I will follow you. Your white horse and white cloak can be seen even in this darkness, and I am tired of watching the kawass." He passed, and for a few moments rode before me, but suddenly stopped, half way down a steep declivity, saying, "I am afraid for you. I can not let you ride, and I not see you. Not Jacob gave more anxious charge to his sons when they carried away Benjamin, than I have received concerning you, and how can I let you ride in these dangerous paths out of my sight? Let me follow you, I pray, and you keep close as you can to the kawass, and do not let your horse run— there are loose stones here, and smooth slabs of rock—let him go very gently." I yielded to his entreaty, and once more rode after the invisible leader. I trusted to my horse that he would keep in the right path, and I went on silently as if in a dream.
Suddenly my musings were interrupted. My horse started back on his hind-legs, for the kawass had turned abruptly round and had come to a standstill, and exclaimed, "Ma fî darb" — "There is no road!".
He explained that he had been out of the right track for about half an hour, and he had only just then discovered that we were approaching the brow of a steep cliff. His horse had nearly carried him over the edge. Mohammed began abusing him in very strong terms and sarcastic undertones, while Simeon seemed to be much alarmed and in great trouble.
We were on high table-land, and had reason to be thankful that we had not been dashed down into the dark defile
