The Hidden Treasure
like a more promising tent, and found an old long-bearded
man in an abba surrounded by snarling dogs. The old man
had no room, said he. His words were disregarded, and I was
told to enter under the flap: a crone inside crouched beside a
new-born calf over a smoky fire. It was poor enough, and
the lieutenant, when he followed me in, pronounced the place
impossible. Better tents, we knew, must be about somewhere
in so large a settlement: we went out again into the night and
told the old man to guide us. But this he refused to do. If
he brought the police to anyone in the tribe, they would be
his enemies for life, said he; and he could not make enemies
of people in whose neighbourhood he was living for us who
might never come again. The young policeman from
Kermenshah, the same who had pursued the brigand, seized
him by the collar of his abba and shook him like a wet paint-
brush. The old man called on the names of all the prophets,
but still refused to guide.
" Come on," said the policeman, dragging him beside hi:
stirrup. " Son of a burnt father, son of a dog, we will pa]
you for coming: will you leave us out in the open al
night?"
The old man stood his ground. He followed, because hi
was being dragged, but his spirit was unconquered, andnothinj
would make him disclose which of the many fires twinkling
about the landscape belonged to a tent suitable for the receptio:
of guests. We made for the nearest, and found there onl
two women and a small boy. They too would have avoide
us if they could.
" You cannot come here: we are women alone," said the}
The excuse was one that a decent Moslem could not disregan
But the little boy was at last induced to guide us: the old mai
muttering and dishevelled, was dropped with curses, and w
followed through many more dogs to a large tent on the slop