shouts from the boys brought, from all directions, volunteers to pursue the runaway, and, after some little time, the frightened animal was caught, in a circle of the noisiest, wildest-looking little fellows I ever saw, and to whom the few piasters which I distributed was a fortune.
We returned by a rather different route, and passed another fountain, more simple than the others, but very picturesque, and formed chiefly of blocks of unhewn stone. Women were washing their linen shirts and vails in the reservoir, and a number of rough, desperate-looking men were lounging idly round it. They looked over my paper while I sketched the fountain and a few figures. One of them said, "If we were to fetch all the men of the valley, and all the men of the hills, they could not do that." They seemed, by their remarks, to fancy that drawing was a sense or faculty peculiar to the Franks. They were clamorous for backshîsh, and followed us for some distance, muttering, grumbling, and disputing among themselves. After they had given up the pursuit, I found that I had lost my pocket-book, containing papers of value. I galloped back to Philip's Fountain, though the rays of the sun were very powerful. I explained my loss to the shepherd boys, now my firm allies, then I rode back to the other fountain, where I found the group of men who had followed us, standing as if in consultation. I felt certain that they had my book. I told them I came from the English consulate, and asked them to help me in my search. They so positively declared that my book was not lost there, that I felt more convinced than ever that they had found it. Presently I tried the effect of a small piece of gold, which I offered to the finder. In a moment one of the men drew my book from his girdle, and rather hesitatingly placed it in my hands. I feared he might repent, so I immediately gave it to the kawass to take charge of, and we very thankfully rode away. These men were all fully armed, and dressed in coarse scanty clothing. They looked as if a trifle would excite them to mischief
