"On the Heely River," Hud Perkins stated, "an' there wasn't rightly a
passel. There was five, but five such critters look like a passel. Will
yours stay about or do you picket him?"
"He'll stay."
"Then take his gear off an' let him fill up. Plenty of grass hereabouts
an' nary a critter to eat it most times."
Ali removed Ben Akbar's saddle and bridle and the big _dalul_ padded out
to forage. Intrigued by his host's reference to five camels on the Heely
River, Ali straightened to ask for more information and found Hud
Perkins staring at Ben Akbar.