Chapter
12
EVEN AS NAKHLA ENTERED THE TENT OF HER FATHER SHE realized the folly of attempting to convince her people of the truth of her day's experiences. They would never believe her. So she decided that reference to the lad and the lion had better be left unmade.
Her father and his people were wild with joy at her safe return, and to account for her absence she told of her capture by the marauders and her eventual escape.
El Djebel, her horse, had not yet returned. A party of young tribesmen were scouring the desert for her, but they had gone to the east instead of to the west. They returned late the following morning, and an hour later El Djebel wandered unconcernedly into the camp in search of food and water.
For several days Nakhla found no opportunity to leave camp unattended t
