DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5073#0256
AFTER THE BATTLE.
245
ever, have but poor dresses) ; the dresses of the Chris-
tians are more costly than that of the Druze, but the
Druze is much the cleaner of the two : numerically, the
Maronites far exceed the Druzes, — but the minority of
the latter are more than compensated by their courage,
coolness, aud organisation.
Mr. Noel now left us to see how things were going on
in his own house, which he had given up to the shelter
of very many women and children, with their little
bundles of valuables and gold ornaments ; and on going
back he found his dragoman had brought in several of
the wounded, whose sufferings they did their best to
relieve :—that long night was a sad one, passed among
the women and children, two of whom were wounded,
—the little babies were crowing or sleeping in infantine
content, while many of the women were wailing for the
dead, amongst whom was the muleteer who had begun
the quarrel, and whose young wife had been married
but a month before. Mas Noel came back to us at
nightfall for linen rags and medicine—a Druze dodged
him in the darkness with his rifle cocked, and was just
stooping to take aim when he called out, " Ingleez !
Ingleez !" upon hearing which the Druze started up
and made amends by accompanying him to our door
with many signs of respect, repeating " Ingleez taib,
taib keteer!"
A thick fog came up with the night, and shrouded
everything from view, but we sat in our corridor watch-
*ng the moonlight shining in strange brightness down
upon the white masses and folds of the fog below us,
and listening rather anxiously for any distant firing,
fearing lest the Druzes should think of pursuing the
Christians in their flight: we heard nothing, however,
until, about seven o'clock, the deep silence was broken
B 3
245
ever, have but poor dresses) ; the dresses of the Chris-
tians are more costly than that of the Druze, but the
Druze is much the cleaner of the two : numerically, the
Maronites far exceed the Druzes, — but the minority of
the latter are more than compensated by their courage,
coolness, aud organisation.
Mr. Noel now left us to see how things were going on
in his own house, which he had given up to the shelter
of very many women and children, with their little
bundles of valuables and gold ornaments ; and on going
back he found his dragoman had brought in several of
the wounded, whose sufferings they did their best to
relieve :—that long night was a sad one, passed among
the women and children, two of whom were wounded,
—the little babies were crowing or sleeping in infantine
content, while many of the women were wailing for the
dead, amongst whom was the muleteer who had begun
the quarrel, and whose young wife had been married
but a month before. Mas Noel came back to us at
nightfall for linen rags and medicine—a Druze dodged
him in the darkness with his rifle cocked, and was just
stooping to take aim when he called out, " Ingleez !
Ingleez !" upon hearing which the Druze started up
and made amends by accompanying him to our door
with many signs of respect, repeating " Ingleez taib,
taib keteer!"
A thick fog came up with the night, and shrouded
everything from view, but we sat in our corridor watch-
*ng the moonlight shining in strange brightness down
upon the white masses and folds of the fog below us,
and listening rather anxiously for any distant firing,
fearing lest the Druzes should think of pursuing the
Christians in their flight: we heard nothing, however,
until, about seven o'clock, the deep silence was broken
B 3