Beadle's Pocket Library, No. 200

# The Twin Horsemen; or, The Brothers of the Plumed Lance

Captain Frederick Whittaker's serial adventure novel follows twin sons of the American Consul at Damascus—nineteen-year-old Launcelot (Launce) and Charles (Charley) Benton—as they depart on a desert expedition. Born in America but raised in Syria, the brothers speak Arabic and Turkish fluently. Their mission: to acquire Arabian mares for Major Jim Buckner, a Kentucky horse breeder. Accompanied by Demetri, the consul's Greek cawass (guard), and servants with baggage camels, the brothers venture into the Syrian desert to locate their father's friend, Sheik Sotamm of the Roala tribe.

While traveling toward Tadmor, they encounter mounted Bedouins conducting a ghazou (raid). After Demetri positions their party defensively behind camels, two young Arab riders approach unarmed. One claims to be Sotamm's son himself, offering to guide them to his father's camp. Charley expresses skepticism about the Arab's truthfulness, while Demetri notes Arabs routinely deceive while raiding.