About four o'clock
Abdur Kad ` r , it is true , may have raged a little more extensively than usual when it was discovered that the well had caved in from sheer disuse , and several hours ' labor would be necessary before some brackish water could be obtained . He did not trouble the Effendi with this detail , however . There was another more pressing matter to be dealt with , but , Allah be praised , that might wait till a less occupied hour , for the Frank was in no hurry , and he paid like a Kaliph . About four o'clock Irene was sitting in her tent making some belated jottings in a diary . Being thirsty , she called a servant , and told him to bring a bottle of soda-water . A few minutes later she heard a stumble , a crash , and a loud exclamation in Arabic . The man had fallen over one of the heavy stones to which the guy-ropes were fastened .