"Come along, man; don’t be a fool!" I cried angrily; "people will think you mad," and dragged him reluctantly away through narrow, tortuous passages, jostling natives of every black or brown nationality under the sun, and pressing back occasionally against the walls of the miserable houses to let laden donkeys pass. The Eastern smell pervading everything delighted me; it was splendid; but I do not suppose he noticed it. At last we came to the main gate of the town, with its armed guard of ruffianly Arabs, and turned to the right along an open space where many horses were tethered, until we found ourselves close to a wretched mosque and a crowd of idlers lazily listening whilst a decrepit-looking old chap, standing on the steps, read from a paper he was holding. As we pressed through the people I caught the words "Khamia", when Mr. Scarlett stopped suddenly, gripped my arm fiercely, and literally pulled me away. He was shaking all over, and that muddy, frightened expression had come back. "What the dickens is the matter now?" I asked, very irritated. "Come back; get back to the ’_B.A._,’ sir; I can’t breathe here." He let go of my arm and simply ploughed his way through the crowd, and when clear of it actually began running. I caught him up and stopped him. I was furious. "Didn’t you hear what he was reading?" he said, trembling. "It was the proclamation offering a reward for the ’Twin Death’?" "That’s nothing, man; you know they read it out every few weeks." "I can’t help it, sir; don’t leave me, sir! For God’s sake get me back to the ’_B.A._’! That’s not all. I’ve seen something else." He would not tell me what, but walked as fast as he could, looking back every other second, with wild eyes, as if he was afraid of being followed. He walked so fast that I could barely keep up with him, and in one street or alleyway, which was fairly empty, he broke into a run again. He was in a pitiable state of terror, and I was mighty glad when we did at last reach the beach, jump into a shore boat, and get aboard the _Bunder Abbas_. It was not until he had had a glass of brandy that he began to calm down, and presently he apologized most abjectly for spoiling my walk. I knew that I should never take him ashore again; I was very irritated. The whole business was so childish. He might take the bracelet off—I would guarantee to have it off in ten minutes—without the least risk. I tried to argue with him; but it was not of the least use; he only became more agitated. He shut himself in our cabin, and I left him there till Percy announced dinner, with a grin of importance at having provided a special feast for us from one of the sheep those poor devils of villagers had given us. "Kid-ney on to-ast," he said, his eyes and mouth wide open with delight. "Come along, Mr. Scarlett!" I shouted, and tried to make him come out. "I durs’n’t yet, sir; I’ll wait till it’s dark." "What on earth are you frightened of—now?"