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diff --git a/34959-h/34959-h.htm b/34959-h/34959-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d25a29f --- /dev/null +++ b/34959-h/34959-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,9525 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<!-- $Id: header.txt 236 2009-12-07 18:57:00Z vlsimpson $ --> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of KHALED: A Tale Of Arabia, by F. Marion Crawford. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +h1 {line-height: 3em; word-spacing: .2em; letter-spacing: .2em;} +h1 .big {font-size: 120%;} +h1 .small {font-size: 90%;} +h4.booklist {margin-bottom: 0;} + + div.main {margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + margin-top: 0; + padding-top: 3em; + padding-bottom: 1em; + clear: both; + page-break-after: always; + max-width: 32em; } + +p { + margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; +} + +p.title1 {font-size: 150%; text-align: center; word-spacing: .2em; letter-spacing: .2em;} +p.author {margin-top: 3em; font-size: 120%; text-align: center; word-spacing: .2em;} +p.pub {margin-top: 5em; word-spacing: .2em;} +p.tall {margin-top: 1.5em;} +p.hang {padding-left: 2em; text-indent: -2em;} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; +} + +.tr { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + margin-top: 5%; + margin-bottom: 5%; + padding: 2em; + background-color: #f6f2f2; + color: black; + border: dotted black 1px; +} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} + +table.books {margin-left: 5%;} +table.books td.tcol1 {text-align: right; padding-right: .5em; vertical-align: top;} + +.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; +} /* page numbers */ + + +.blockquot { + margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +ul { list-style-type:none; } + +.bb {border-bottom: solid 2px;} + +.bl {border-left: solid 2px;} + +.bt {border-top: solid 2px;} + +.br {border-right: solid 2px;} + +.bbox {border: solid 2px;} + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.txt90 {font-size: 90%;} +.txt110 {font-size: 110%;} +.txt150 {font-size: 150%;} +.txt200 {font-size: 200%;} + +.txt200 span.txt50 {font-size: 50%;} + +.lpad2 {padding-left: 2em;} +.lpad4 {padding-left: 4em;} + +.allcaps {font-size: 80%;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + +.u {text-decoration: underline;} + +.caption {font-weight: bold;} + +/* Images */ +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; +} + +.figleft { + float: left; + clear: left; + margin-left: 0; + margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-right: 1em; + padding: 0; + text-align: center; +} + +.figright { + float: right; + clear: right; + margin-left: 1em; + margin-bottom: + 1em; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-right: 0; + padding: 0; + text-align: center; +} + + +/* Poetry */ +.poem { + margin-left:10%; + margin-right:10%; + text-align: left; +} + +.poem br {display: none;} + +.poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + +.poem span.i0 { + display: block; + margin-left: 0em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's Khaled, A Tale of Arabia, by F. Marion Crawford + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Khaled, A Tale of Arabia + +Author: F. Marion Crawford + +Release Date: January 14, 2011 [EBook #34959] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK KHALED, A TALE OF ARABIA *** + + + + +Produced by David Edwards, Christine Aldridge and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net +(This file was produced from images generously made +available by The Internet Archive) + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + + +<p class="title1">KHALED: A TALE OF ARABIA</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 200px;"> +<img src="images/i001.jpg" width="200" height="60" alt="M. M. & Co." title="M. M. & Co." /> +</div> +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + + + +<h1><big>KHALED</big><br /> +A Tale of Arabia</h1> + + +<p class="author"><span class="smcap">By</span> F. MARION CRAWFORD</p> + + +<p class="pub center"><i><b>London</b></i><br /> +MACMILLAN AND CO., <span class="smcap">Limited</span><br /> +<span class="allcaps">NEW YORK: THE MACMILLAN COMPANY</span><br /> +1901</p> + +<p class="tall center"><i>All rights reserved</i></p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<p class="center">COPYRIGHT<br /> +1891<br /> +<span class="allcaps">BY</span><br /> +F. MARION CRAWFORD</p> + + +<p class="tall center"><i>First Edition (2 Vols. Globe 8vo) May 1891. Second +Edition (1 Vol. Crown 8vo) November 1891, 1892 +Re-issue 1901</i></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h3>TABLE OF CONTENTS</h3> + +<div class="center"> +<table width="65%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Table of Contents"> +<tr><td align="left"> </td><td align="right"><span class="allcaps">PAGE</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I</a></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_1">1</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II</a></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_22">22</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III</a></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_43">43</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV</a></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_64">64</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V</a></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_86">86</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI</a></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_107">107</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII</a></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_128">128</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII</a></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_150">150</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX</a></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_171">171</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X</a></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_192">192</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI</a></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_213">213</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII</a></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_235">235</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" style="padding-top: 1.5em;"><a href="#MESSRS_MACMILLAN_AND_COS_PUBLICATIONS">MESSRS. MACMILLAN AND CO.'S PUBLICATIONS</a>.</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_259">259</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><a href="#MACMILLANS">MACMILLAN'S Three-and-Sixpenny Library</a></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_261">261</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span></p> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I</h3> + + +<p>Khaled stood in the third heaven, which is the heaven +of precious stones, and of Asrael, the angel of Death. +In the midst of the light shed by the fruit of the trees +Asrael himself is sitting, and will sit until the day of +the resurrection from the dead, writing in his book the +names of those who are to be born, and blotting out the +names of those who have lived their years and must +die. Each of the trees has seventy thousand branches, +each branch bears seventy thousand fruits, each fruit is +composed of seventy thousand diamonds, rubies, emeralds, +carbuncles, jacinths, and other precious stones. The +stature and proportions of Asrael are so great that his +eyes are seventy thousand days' journey apart, the one +from the other.</p> + +<p>Khaled stood motionless during ten months and +thirteen days, waiting until Asrael should rest from his +writing and look towards him. Then came the holy +night called Al Kadr, the night of peace in which the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span> +Koran came down from heaven. Asrael paused, and +raising his eyes from the scroll saw Khaled standing +before him.</p> + +<p>Asrael knew Khaled, who was one of the genii converted +to the faith on hearing Mohammed read the +Koran by night in the valley Al Nakhlah. He wondered, +however, when he saw him standing in his presence; +for the genii are not allowed to pass even the gate of +the first heaven, in which the stars hang by chains of +gold, each star being inhabited by an angel who guards +the entrance against the approach of devils.</p> + +<p>Asrael looked at Khaled in displeasure, therefore, +supposing that he had eluded the heavenly sentinels +and concealed an evil purpose. But Khaled inclined +himself respectfully.</p> + +<p>'There is no Allah but Allah. Mohammed is the +prophet of Allah,' he said, thus declaring himself to be +of the Moslem genii, who are upright and are true +believers.</p> + +<p>'How camest thou hither?' asked Asrael.</p> + +<p>'By the will of Allah, who sent his angel with me +to the gate,' Khaled answered. 'I am come hither that +thou mayest write down my name in the book of life +and death, that I may be a man on earth, and after an +appointed time thou shalt blot it out again and I shall +die.'</p> + +<p>Asrael gazed at him and knew that this was the will<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span> +of Allah, for the angels are thus immediately made +conscious of the divine commands. He took up his pen +to write, but before he had traced the first letter he +paused.</p> + +<p>'This is the night Al Kadr,' he said. 'If thou wilt, +tell me therefore thy story, for I am now at leisure to +hear it.'</p> + +<p>'Thou knowest that I am of the upright genii,' +Khaled answered, 'and I am well disposed towards +men. In the city of Riad, in Arabia, there rules a +powerful king, the Sultan of the kingdom of Nejed, +blessed in all things save that he has no son to inherit +his vast dominions. One daughter only has been born +to him in his old age, of such marvellous beauty that +even the Black Eyed Virgins enclosed in the fruit of +the tree Sedrat, who wait for the coming of the faithful, +would seem but mortal women beside her. Her eyes +are as the deep water in the wells of Zobeideh when +it is night and the stars are reflected therein. Her hair +is finer than silk, red with henna, and abundant as the +foliage of the young cypress tree. Her face is as fair as +the kernels of young almonds, and her mouth is sweeter +than the mellow date and more fragrant than 'Ood +mingled with ambergris. She possesses moreover all +the virtues which become women, for she is as modest +as she is beautiful and as charitable as she is modest. +From all parts of Arabia and Egypt, and from Syria and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span> +from Persia, and even from Samarkand, from Afghanistan, +and from India princes and kings' sons continually +come to ask her in marriage, for the fame of her beauty +and of her virtues is as wide as the world. But her +father, desiring only her happiness, leaves the choice of +a husband to herself, and for a long time she refused all +her suitors. For there is in the palace at Riad a certain +secret chamber from which she can observe all those +who come and hear their conversation and see the gifts +which they bring with them.</p> + +<p>'At last there came as a suitor an unbeliever, a +prince of an island by the shores of India, beautiful as +the moon, whose speech was honey, and who surpassed +all the suitors in riches and in the magnificence of the +presents he brought. For he came bearing with him a +hundred pounds' weight of pure gold, and five hundred +ounces of ambergris, and a great weight of musk and +aloes and sandal wood, and rich garments without +number, and many woven shawls of Kashmir, of which +the least splendid was valued at a thousand sherifs of +gold. An innumerable retinue accompanied him, and +twenty elephants, and horses without number, besides +camels.</p> + +<p>'The Sultan's daughter beheld this beautiful prince +from her secret hiding-place, and all that he had brought +with him. The Sultan received him with kindness and +hospitality, but assured him that unless he would renounce<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span> +idolatry and embrace the true faith he could not +hope to succeed in his purpose. Thereupon he was +much cast down, and soon afterwards, having received +magnificent gifts in his turn, he would have departed +on his way, disappointed and heavy at heart. But +Zehowah sent for her father and entreated him to bid +the young prince remain. "For it is not impossible," +she said, "that he may yet be converted to the true +faith. And have I the right to refuse to sacrifice my +freedom when the sacrifice may be the means of converting +an idolater to the right way? And if I marry +him and go with him to his kingdom, shall we not make +true believers of all his subjects, so that I shall deserve +to be called the mother of the faithful like Ayesha, +beloved by the Prophet, upon whom be peace?" The +Sultan found it hard to oppose this argument which was +founded upon virtue and edified in righteousness. He +therefore entreated the Indian prince to remain and to +profess Islam, promising the hand of Zehowah when he +should be converted.</p> + +<p>'Then I heard the prince taking secret counsel with +a certain old man who was with him, who shaved his +face and wore white clothing and ate food which he +prepared for himself alone. The prince told all, and +then the old man counselled him in this way. "Speak +whatsoever words they require of thee," he said, "for +words are but garments wherewith to make the nakedness<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span> +of truth modest and agreeable. And take the +woman, and by and by, when we are returned to our +own land, if she consent to worship thy gods, it is good; +and if not, it is yet good, for thou shalt possess her as +thy wife, and her unbelief shall be of consequence only +to her own soul, but thy soul shall not be retarded in +its progress." And the young prince was pleased, and +promised to do as his counsellor advised him.</p> + +<p>'So I saw that he was false and that Zehowah's +righteousness would be but the means to her sorrow if +she were allowed to persist. Therefore in the night, +when all were asleep in the palace, I entered into the +room where the prince was lying, and I took him in my +arms and flew with him to the midst of the Red Desert, +and there I slew him and buried him in the sand, for I +saw that he was a liar and had determined to be a +hypocrite.</p> + +<p>'But Allah immediately sent an angel to destroy me +because I had put to death a man who was about to become +a believer, thereby killing his soul also, since he had +not yet made profession of the faith. But I stood up and +defended myself, saying that I had slain a hypocrite +who had planned in his heart to carry away the daughter +of a Moslem. Then the angel asked the truth of the +prince's soul, which was sitting upon the red sand that +covered the body. The soul answered, weeping, and +said: "These are true words, and I am fuel for hell."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span> +"Have I then deserved death?" I asked. "I have +killed an unbeliever." The angel answered that I had +deserved life; and he would have left me and returned +to paradise, but I would not let him go, and I besought +him to entreat Allah that I might be allowed to live +the life of a mortal man upon earth. "For," I said, +"thou sayest that I deserve life. But even if thou +destroy me not now I am only one of the genii, who +shall all die at the first blast of the trumpet before the +resurrection of the dead. Obtain for me therefore that +I may have a soul and live a few years, and if I do +good I shall then be with the faithful in paradise; and +if not, I shall be bound with red-hot chains and burn +everlastingly like a sinful man." The angel promised +to intercede for me and departed. So I sat down upon +the mound of red sand beside the soul of the Indian +prince, to wait for the angel's coming again.</p> + +<p>'Then the soul reproached me angrily. "But for +thee," it said, "I should have married Zehowah and +returned to my own people, and although I purposed to +be a hypocrite, yet in time Zehowah might have convinced +me and I should have believed in my heart. +For I now see that there is no Allah but Allah, and +that Mohammed is the prophet of Allah. And I should +perhaps have died full of years, a good Moslem, and +should have entered paradise. Therefore I pray Allah +that this may be remembered in thy condemnation." At<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span> +these words I was very angry and reviled the soul, +scoffing at it. "No doubt Allah will hear thy prayer," +I answered, "and will hear also at the same time thy +lies. And as for Zehowah, thinkest thou that she +would have loved thee, even if she had married thee? +I tell thee that her soul rejoices only in the light of the +faith, and that although she might have married thee, +she would have done so in the hope of turning thy +people from the worship of false gods and not for love of +thee. For she will never love any man." When I had +said this the soul groaned aloud and then remained +silent.</p> + +<p>'In a little while the angel came back, and I saw +that his face was no longer clouded with anger. "Hear +the judgment of Allah," he said. "Inasmuch as thou +tookest the law upon thyself, which belonged to Allah +alone, thou deservest to die. But in so far as thou hast +indeed slain a hypocrite and an unbeliever thou hast +earned life. Allah is just, merciful and forgiving. It +is not meet that in thy lot there should be nothing but +reward or nothing but punishment. Therefore thou +shalt not yet receive a soul. Go hence to the third +heaven and when the angel Asrael shall be at leisure +he will write thy name in the book of the living. Then +thou shalt return hither and go into the city of Riad +bearing gifts. And Zehowah will accept thee in marriage, +though she love thee not, for Allah commands that it be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span> +so. But if in the course of time this virtuous woman +be moved to love, and say to thee, 'Khaled, I love thee,' +then at that moment thou shalt receive an immortal +soul, and if thy deeds be good thy soul shall enter +paradise with the believers, but if not, thou shalt burn. +Thus saith Allah. Thus art thou rewarded, indeed, but +wisely and temperately, since thou hast not obtained +life directly, but only the hope of life." Then the angel +departed again, leading the way.</p> + +<p>'But the soul mocked me. "Thou that sayest of +Zehowah that she will never love any man, thou art +fallen into thine own trap," it cried. "For now, if she +love thee not thou must perish. Truly, Allah heard my +prayer." But I was filled with thankfulness and departed +after the angel, leaving the soul sitting alone +upon the red sand.</p> + +<p>'Thus have I told thee my history, O Asrael. And +now I pray thee to write my name in the book of the +living that I may fulfil the command of Allah and go +my way to the city of Riad.'</p> + +<p>Then Asrael again took up his pen to write in the +book.</p> + +<p>'Now thou art become a living man, though thou +hast as yet no soul,' he said. 'And thou art subject to +death by the sword and by sickness and by all those +evils which spring up in the path of the living. And +the day of thy death is already known to Allah who<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> +knows all things. But he is merciful and will doubtless +grant thee a term of years in which to make thy trial. +Nevertheless be swift in thy journey and speedy in all +thou doest, for though mortal man may live for ever +hereafter in glory, his years on earth are but as the +breath which springs up in the desert towards evening +and is gone before the stars appear.'</p> + +<p>Khaled made a salutation before Asrael and went +out of the third heaven, and passed through the second +which is of burnished steel, and through the first in +which the stars hang by golden chains, where Adam +waits for the day of the resurrection, and at the gate he +found the angel who had led him, and who now lifted +him in his arms and bore him back to the Red Desert; +for as he was now a mortal man he could no longer +move through the air like the genii between the outer +gate of heaven and the earth. Nor could he any longer +see the soul of the Indian prince sitting upon the sand, +though it was still there. But the angel was visible to +him. So they stood together, and the angel spoke to +him.</p> + +<p>'Thou art now a mortal man,' he said, 'and subject to +time as to death. To thee it seems but a moment since +we went up together to the gate, and yet thou wast +standing ten months and thirteen days before Asrael, +and of the body of the man whom thou slewest only +the bones remain.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span></p> + +<p>So saying the angel blew upon the red sand and +Khaled saw the white bones of the prince in the place +where he had laid his body. So he was first made +conscious of time.</p> + +<p>'Nearly a year has passed, and though Allah be very +merciful to thee, yet he will assuredly not suffer thee to +live beyond the time of other men. Make haste therefore +and depart upon thine errand. Yet because thou +art come into the world a grown man, having neither +father nor mother nor inheritance, I will give thee what +is most necessary for thy journey.'</p> + +<p>Then the angel took a handful of leaves from a +ghada bush close by and gave them to Khaled, and as +he gave them they were changed into a rich garment, +and into linen, and into a shawl with which to make a +turban, and shoes of red leather.</p> + +<p>'Clothe thyself with these,' said the angel.</p> + +<p>He broke a twig from the bush and placed it in +Khaled's hand. Immediately it became a sabre of +Damascus steel, in a sheath of leather with a belt.</p> + +<p>'Take this sword, which is of such fine temper that +it will cleave through an iron headpiece and a shirt of +mail. But remember that it is not a sword made by +magic. Let thy magic reside in thy arm, wield it for +the faith, and put thy trust in Allah.'</p> + +<p>Afterwards the angel took up a locust that was +asleep on the sand waiting for the warmth of the morning<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> +sun. The angel held the locust up before Khaled, +and then let it fall. But as it fell it became at once a +beautiful bay mare with round black eyes wide apart +and an arching tail which swept down to the sand like +a river of silk.</p> + +<p>'Take this mare,' said the angel; 'she is of the pure +breed of Nejed and as swift as the wind, but mortal +like thyself.'</p> + +<p>'But how shall I ride her without saddle or bridle?' +asked Khaled.</p> + +<p>'That is true,' answered the angel.</p> + +<p>He laid leaves of the ghada upon the mare's back +and they became a saddle, and placed a twig in her +mouth and it turned into a bit and bridle.</p> + +<p>Khaled thanked the angel and mounted.</p> + +<p>'Farewell and prosper, and put thy trust in Allah, +and forget not the day of judgment,' the angel said, and +immediately returned to paradise.</p> + +<p>So Khaled was left alone in the Red Desert, a living +man obliged to shift for himself, liable to suffer hunger +and thirst or to be slain by robbers, with no worldly +possessions but his sword, his bay mare, and the clothes +on his back. He knew moreover that he was more +than two hundred miles from the city of Riad, and he +knew that he could not accomplish this journey in less +than four days. For when he was one of the genii he +had often watched men toiling through desert on foot,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> +and on camels and on horses, and had laughed with +his companions at the slow progress they made. But +now it was no laughing matter, for he had forgotten to +ask the angel for dates and water, or even for a few +handfuls of barley meal.</p> + +<p>He turned the mare's head westward of the Goat, in +which is the polar star, for he remembered that when +he had carried away the Indian prince he had flown +toward the south-east, and as he began to gallop over +the dark sand he laughed to himself.</p> + +<p>'What poor things are men and their horses,' he said. +'To destroy me, this mare need only stumble and lame +herself, and we shall both die of hunger and thirst in +the desert.'</p> + +<p>This reflection made him at first urge the mare to +her greatest speed, for he thought that the sooner he +should be out of the desert and among the villages +beyond, the present danger would be passed. But +presently he bethought him that the mare would be +more likely to stumble and hurt herself in the dark if +she were galloping than if she were moving at a +moderate pace. He therefore drew bridle and patted +her neck and made her walk slowly and cautiously +forward.</p> + +<p>But this did not please him either, after a time, for +he remembered that if he rode too slowly he must die +of hunger before reaching the end of his journey.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Truly,' he said, 'one must learn what it is to be a +man, in order to understand the uses of moderation. +Gallop not lest thy horse fall and thou perish! Nor +delay walking slowly by the road, lest thou die of thirst +and hunger! Yet thou art not safe, for Al Walid died +from treading upon an arrow, and Oda ibn Kais perished +by perpetual sneezing. Allah is just and merciful! I +will let the mare go at her own pace, for the end of all +things is known.'</p> + +<p>The mare, being left to herself, began to canter and +carried Khaled onward all night without changing her +gait.</p> + +<p>'Nevertheless,' thought Khaled, 'if we are not soon +out of the desert we shall suffer thirst during the day +as well as hunger.'</p> + +<p>When there was enough daylight to distinguish a +black thread from a white, Khaled looked before him +and saw that there was nothing but red sand in hillocks +and ridges, with ghada bushes here and there. But still +the mare cantered on and did not seem tired. Soon +the sun rose and it grew very hot, for the air was quite +still and it was summer time.</p> + +<p>Khaled looked always before him and at last he saw +a white patch in the distance and he knew that there +must be water near it. For the water of the Red Desert +whitens the sand. He therefore rode on cheerfully, for +he was now thirsty, and the mare quickened her pace,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> +for she also knew that she was near a drinking-place. +But as they came close to the spot Khaled remembered +that the preceding night had been Al Kadr, which +falls between the seventh and eighth latter days of the +month Ramadhan, during which the true believers +neither eat nor drink so long as there is light enough +to distinguish a white thread from a black one. So, +when they reached the well, he let his mare drink her +fill, and he took off the saddle and bridle and let her +loose, after which he sat down with his head in the +shade of a ghada bush to rest himself.</p> + +<p>'Allah is merciful,' he said; 'the night will come, +and then I will drink.' For he dared not ride farther, +for fear of not finding water again.</p> + +<p>Then again he was disturbed, for he had nothing to +eat, and he thought that if he waited until night he +would be hungry as well as thirsty. But presently he +saw the mare trying to catch the locusts that flew about. +She could only catch one or two, because it was now +hot and they were able to fly quickly.</p> + +<p>'When the night comes,' he said, 'the locusts will +lie on the ground and cling to the bushes, being stiff +with the cold, and then I will eat my fill, and drink +also.'</p> + +<p>Soon afterwards he fell asleep, being weary, and +when he awoke it was night again and the stars were +shining overhead. Khaled rose hastily and drank at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> +the well and made ablutions and prayed, prostrating +himself towards the Kebla. He remembered that he +had slept a long time, and that he had not performed +his devotions for a day and a night, so that he repeated +them five times, to atone for the omission.</p> + +<p>The mare was eating the locusts that now lay in +great black patches on the sand unable to move and +save themselves. Khaled threw his cloak over a great +number of them and gathered them together. Then he +kindled a fire of ghada by striking sparks from the +blade of his sword, and when he had made a bed of +coals he roasted the locusts after pulling off their legs, +and ate his fill. While he was doing this he was much +disturbed in mind.</p> + +<p>'I have only just begun to live as a man,' he thought. +'Did I not stand ten months and thirteen days in the +third heaven, unconscious of the passing of time? Who +shall tell me whether I have not slept another ten +months or more under this bush, like the companions +of Al Rakim?'</p> + +<p>So, when he had done eating and had drunk again +from the well, and had made the mare drink, he saddled +her quickly and mounted, and cantered on through the +night, guiding his course by the stars. On the following +day he again found a well, but much later than +before, and he suffered much from thirst as he watched +his mare dip her black lips into the pool. Nevertheless<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> +he would not break his fast, for he was resolved to be a +true believer in practice as well as in belief. So he +fell asleep and awoke when it was night again, and ate +and drank. In this way he journeyed several days +until he began to see the hill country which borders +the desert towards Riad, and he understood that he had +been much farther away than he had imagined. But +he reflected that Allah had doubtless intended to try +his constancy by imposing upon him the journey +through the desert during the days of fasting. But at +last, he awoke one day just at sunset, instead of sleeping +until the night. He had been travelling up the +first slopes where the ground, though barren, is harder +than in the desert, and had lain down in a hollow by +an abundant spring. He rose now and made ablutions +and prayed, as usual, towards Mecca; that is to say, +being where he was, he turned his face to the west as +the sun was setting. When he had finished he stood +some minutes watching the red light over the desert +below him, and then he was suddenly aware that the +new moon was hanging just above the diminishing fire +of the evening, and he knew that the fast of Ramadhan +was over and that the feast of Bairam had begun. +Thereat he was glad, and determined to take an unusual +number of locusts for his evening meal.</p> + +<p>But when he looked about he saw that there were +no locusts in the place, though there was grass, which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> +his mare was eating. Then he looked everywhere near +the well to see whether some traveller had not perhaps +dropped a few dates or a little barley by accident, but +there was nothing.</p> + +<p>'Doubtless,' he said, 'Allah wishes to show me that +greediness is a sin even on the day of feasting.'</p> + +<p>He drank as much of the water as he could in order +to stay his hunger as well as assuage his thirst, and then +he saddled the mare and rode up out of the hollow +towards the hill country. Towards the middle of the +night he came to a small village where all the people +were celebrating the feast, having killed a young camel +and several sheep. Seeing that he was a traveller they +bade him be welcome, and he sat down among them and +ate his fill of meat, praising Allah. And corn was +given to his mare, so that the dumb animal also kept +the feast.</p> + +<p>'Truly,' said the people, 'thy mare is a daughter of +Al Borak, the heavenly steed called "the Lightning," +upon which the nocturnal journey was accomplished +by the Prophet, upon whom be peace.'</p> + +<p>They said this not because they divined that the +mare had been given to Khaled by an angel, but because +they saw by her beauty that she must be swift as +the wind. For she had a large head, with bony cheeks, +and a full forehead and round black eyes wide apart, +with smooth black skin about them, and a pointed nose,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> +and the under lip was like that of a camel, projecting a +little. And she was neither too long nor too short, +having straight legs like steel, and small feet and round +hoofs, neither overgrown in idleness nor overworn with +much work. And her tail lay flat and long and smooth +when she was standing still but arched like the plume +of an ostrich when she moved. Her coat was bright +bay, glossy and smooth and without any white markings. +By all these signs, which belong to the purest +blood, the people of the village knew that she was +of the fleetest reared in Arabia. And Khaled was +glad that the people admired her, since she was the +chief of his few possessions, which indeed were not +many.</p> + +<p>He did not know beforehand what he should do, nor +what he should say when in the presence of the Sultan +of Nejed, still less how he could venture to ask Zehowah +in marriage, having no gifts to offer and not being himself +a prince. Before he had become a man it would +have been easy for him to find treasures in the earth +such as men had never seen, for, like all the genii, he +had been acquainted with the most deeply hidden +mines and with all places where men had hidden +wealth in old times. But this knowledge does not +belong to the intelligence becoming mortals, but rather +to the faculty of seeing through solid substance which +is exercised by the spirits of the air, and in his present<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> +state it was taken from him, together with all possibility +of communicating with his former companions. He +had nothing but his mare and his sword and the garments +he wore, and though the mare was indeed a gift +for a king he did not know whether he was meant to +offer it to any one, seeing that it had been given him +by an angel.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless he did not lose heart, for the celestial +messenger had told him that by the will of Allah he +should marry Zehowah, and Allah was certainly able to +give him a king's daughter in marriage without the +aid of gifts, of gold, of musk, of 'Ood, of aloes or of +pearls.</p> + +<p>He rose, therefore, when he had eaten enough and +had rested himself and his mare, and after thanking the +people of the village for their entertainment he rode on +his way. He passed through a hill country, sometimes +fertile and sometimes stony and deserted, but he found +water by the way and such food as he needed; and +accomplished the remainder of the journey without +hindrance.</p> + +<p>On the morning of the second day he came to a +halting-place from which he could see the city of Riad, +and he was astonished at the size and magnificence of +the Sultan's palace, which was visible above the walls +of the fortification. Yet he was aware that he had seen +all this before as in a dream not altogether forgotten<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> +when a man wakes at dawn after a long and restless +night.</p> + +<p>He gazed awhile, after he had made his ablutions, +and then calling to his mare to come to him, he mounted +and rode through the southern gate into the heart of +the city.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II</h3> + + +<p>When Khaled reached the palace he dismounted from +his mare, and leading her by the bridle entered the +gateway. Here he met many persons, guards, and +slaves both black and white, and porters bearing provisions, +and a few women, all hurrying hither and +thither; and many noticed him, but a few gazed curiously +into his face, and two or three grooms followed +him a little way, pointing out to each other the beauties +of his mare.</p> + +<p>'Truly,' they said, 'if we did not know the mares of +the stud better than the faces of our mothers, we should +swear by Allah that this beast had been stolen from the +Sultan's stables by a thief in the night, for she is of the +best blood in Nejed.'</p> + +<p>These being curious they saluted Khaled and asked +him whence he came and whither he was going, seeing +that it is not courteous to ask a stranger any other +questions.</p> + +<p>'I come from the Red Desert,' Khaled answered, 'and +I am going into the palace as you see.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span></p> + +<p>The grooms saw that there was a rebuke in the last +part of his answer and hung back and presently went +their way.</p> + +<p>'Are such mares bred in the Red Desert?' they +exclaimed. 'The stranger is doubtless the sheikh of +some powerful tribe. But if this be true, where are the +men that came with him? And why is he dressed like +a man of the city?'</p> + +<p>So they hastened out of the gateway to find the +Bedouins who, they supposed, must have accompanied +Khaled on his journey.</p> + +<p>But Khaled went forward and came to a great court +in which were stone seats by the walls. Here a number +of people were waiting. So he sat down upon one of +the seats and his mare laid her nose upon his shoulder +as though inquiring what he would do.</p> + +<p>'Allah knows,' Khaled said, as though answering +her. So he waited patiently.</p> + +<p>At last a man came out into the courtyard who was +richly dressed, and whom all the people saluted as he +passed. But he came straight towards Khaled, who +rose from his seat.</p> + +<p>'Whence come you, my friend?' he inquired after +they had exchanged the salutation.</p> + +<p>'From the Red Desert, and I desire permission to +speak with the Sultan when it shall please his majesty +to see me.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span></p> + +<p>'And what do you desire of his majesty? I ask +that I may inform him beforehand. So you will have +a better reception.'</p> + +<p>'Tell the Sultan,' said Khaled, 'that a man is here +who has neither father nor mother nor any possessions +beyond a swift mare, a keen sword and a strong hand, +but who is come nevertheless to ask in marriage +Zehowah, the Sultan's daughter.'</p> + +<p>The minister smiled and gazed at Khaled in silence +for a moment, but when he had looked keenly at his face, +he became grave.</p> + +<p>'It may be,' he thought, 'that this is some great +prince who comes thus simply as in a disguise, and it +were best not to anger him.'</p> + +<p>'I will deliver your message,' he answered aloud, +'though it is a strange one. It is customary for those +who come to ask for a maiden in marriage to bring +gifts—and to receive others in return,' he added.</p> + +<p>'I neither bring gifts nor ask any,' said Khaled. +'Allah is great and will provide me with what I need.'</p> + +<p>'I fear that he will not provide you with the Sultan's +daughter for a wife,' said the minister as he went away, +but Khaled did not hear the words, though he would +have cared little if he had.</p> + +<p>Now it chanced that Zehowah was sitting in a +balcony surrounded with lattice, over the courtyard, on +that morning and she had seen Khaled enter, leading<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> +his mare by the bridle. But though she watched the +stranger and his beast idly for some time she thought +as little of the one as of the other, for her heart was not +turned to love, and she knew nothing of horses. But +her women thought differently and spoke loudly, praising +the beauty of both.</p> + +<p>'There is indeed a warrior able to fight in the front +of our armies,' they said. 'Truly such a man must +have been Khaled ibn Walad, the Sword of the Lord, in +the days of the Prophet—upon whom peace.'</p> + +<p>By and by there was a cry that the Sultan was +coming into the room, and the women rose and retired. +The Sultan sat down upon the carpet by his daughter, +in the balcony.</p> + +<p>'Do you see that stranger, holding a beautiful mare +by the bridle?' he asked.</p> + +<p>'Yes, I see him,' answered Zehowah indifferently.</p> + +<p>'He is come to ask you in marriage.'</p> + +<p>'Another!' she exclaimed with a careless laugh. +'If it is the will of Allah I will marry him. If not, he +will go away like the rest.'</p> + +<p>'This man is not like the rest, my daughter. He is +either a madman or some powerful prince in disguise.'</p> + +<p>'Or both, perhaps,' laughed Zehowah. She laughed +often, for although she was not inclined to love, she was +of a gentle and merry temper.</p> + +<p>'His message was a strange one,' said the Sultan.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> +'He says that he neither brings gifts nor asks them, +that he has neither father nor mother, nor any +possessions excepting a swift mare, a keen sword and a +strong hand.'</p> + +<p>'I see the mare, the sword and the hand,' answered +Zehowah. 'But the hand is like any other hand—how +can I tell whether it be strong? The sword is in its +sheath, and I cannot see its edge, and though the mare +is pretty enough, I have seen many of your own I liked +as well. The elephants of the Indian prince were more +amusing, and the prince himself was more beautiful +than this stranger with his black beard and his solemn +face.'</p> + +<p>'That is true,' said the Sultan with a sigh.</p> + +<p>'Do you wish me to marry this man?' Zehowah +asked.</p> + +<p>'My daughter, I wish you to choose of your own free +will. Nevertheless I trust that you will choose before +long, that I may see my child's children before I die.'</p> + +<p>For the Sultan was old and white-bearded, and was +already somewhat bowed with advancing years and with +burden of many cares and the fatigues of many wars. +Yet his eye was bright and his heart fearless still, though +his judgment was often weak and vacillating.</p> + +<p>'Do you wish me to marry this man?' Zehowah asked +again. 'He will be a strange husband, for he is a +strange suitor, coming without gifts and having neither<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> +father nor mother. But I will do as you command. If +you leave it to me I shall never marry.'</p> + +<p>'I did not say that I desired you to take this one +especially,' protested the Sultan, 'though for the matter +of gifts I care little, since heaven has sent me wealth +in abundance. But my remaining years are few, +and the years of life are like stones slipping from a +mountain which move slowly at first, and then faster +until they outrun the lightning and leap into the dark +valley below. And what is required of a husband is +that he be a true believer, young and whole in every +part, and of a charitable disposition.'</p> + +<p>'Truly,' laughed Zehowah, 'if he have no possessions, +charity will avail him little, since he has nothing to +give.'</p> + +<p>'There is other charity besides the giving of alms, +my daughter, since it is charity even to think charitably +of others, as you know. But I have not said that you +should marry this man, for you are free. And indeed I +have not yet talked with him. But I have sent for him +and you shall hear him speak. See—they are just now +conducting him to the hall of audiences. But indeed +I think he is no husband for you, after all.'</p> + +<p>The Sultan rose and went to receive Khaled, and +Zehowah went to the secret window above her father's +raised seat in the hall.</p> + +<p>Khaled made the customary salutation with the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> +greatest respect, and the Sultan made him sit down at +his right hand as though he had been a prince, and +asked him whence he had come. Then a refreshment was +brought, and Khaled ate and drank a little, after which +the Sultan inquired his business.</p> + +<p>'I come,' said Khaled boldly, 'to ask your daughter +Zehowah in marriage. I bring no gifts, for I have none +to offer, nor have I any inheritance. My mare is my +fortune, my sword is my argument and my wit is in +my arm.'</p> + +<p>'You are a strange suitor,' said the Sultan; but he +kept a pleasant countenance, since Khaled was his +guest. 'You are no doubt the sheikh of a tribe of the +Red Desert, though I was not aware that any tribes +dwelt there.'</p> + +<p>'So far as being the sheikh of my tribe,' said Khaled +with a smile, 'your majesty may call me so, for my +tribe consists of myself alone, seeing that I have neither +father nor mother nor any relations.'</p> + +<p>'Truly, I have never talked with such a suitor +before,' answered the Sultan. 'At least I presume that +you are a son of some prince, and that you have chosen +to disguise yourself as a rich traveller and to hide your +history under an allegory.'</p> + +<p>The Sultan would certainly not have allowed himself +to overstep the bounds of courtesy so far, but for +his astonishment at Khaled's daring manner. He was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> +too keen, however, not to see that this man was something +above the ordinary and that, whatever else he +might be, he was not a common impostor. Such a +fellow would have found means to rob a caravan of +valuable goods, to offer as gifts, would have brought +himself a train of camels and slaves and would have +given himself out as a prince of some distant country +from which it would not be possible to obtain information.</p> + +<p>'Istaghfir Allah! I am no prince,' Khaled answered. +'I ask for the hand of your daughter. The will of +Allah will be accomplished.'</p> + +<p>He knew that Zehowah was watching and listening +behind the lattice in her place of concealment, for the +memory of such things had not been taken from him +when he had lost the supernatural vision of the genii +and had become an ordinary man. He was determined +therefore to be truthful and to say nothing which he +might afterwards be called upon to explain. For he +never doubted but that Zehowah would be his wife, +since the angel had told him that it should be so.</p> + +<p>'And what if I refuse even to consider your proposal?' +inquired the Sultan, to see what he would say.</p> + +<p>'If it is the will of Allah that I marry your daughter, +your refusal would be useless, but if it is not his will, +your refusal would be altogether unnecessary.'</p> + +<p>The Sultan was much struck by this argument which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> +showed a ready wit in the stranger and which he could +only have opposed by asserting that his own will was +superior to that of heaven itself.</p> + +<p>'But,' said he, defending himself, 'any of the +previous suitors might have said the same.'</p> + +<p>'Undoubtedly,' replied Khaled, unabashed. 'But they +did not say it. Your majesty will certainly now consider +the matter.'</p> + +<p>'In the meanwhile,' the Sultan answered, very +graciously, 'you are my guest, and you have come in +time to take part in the third day of the feast, to which +you are welcome in the name of Allah, the merciful.'</p> + +<p>Thereupon the Sultan rose and Khaled was conducted +to the apartments set apart for the guests. But the +Sultan returned to the harem in a very thoughtful mood, +and before long he found Zehowah who had returned to +her seat in the balcony.</p> + +<p>'This is a very strange suitor,' he said, shaking his +head and looking into his daughter's face.</p> + +<p>'He is at least bold and outspoken,' she answered. +'He makes no secret of his poverty nor of his wishes. +Whatever he be, he is in earnest and speaks truth. I +would like well to know the only secret which he wishes +to keep—who he really is.'</p> + +<p>'It may be,' said the Sultan thoughtfully, 'that if I +threaten to cut off his head he will tell us. But on the +other hand, he is a guest.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span></p> + +<p>'He is not of those who are easily terrified, I think. +Tell me, my father, do you wish me to marry him?'</p> + +<p>'How could you marry a man who has no family +and no inheritance? Would such a marriage befit the +daughter of kings?'</p> + +<p>'Why not?' asked Zehowah with much calmness.</p> + +<p>The Sultan stared at her in astonishment.</p> + +<p>'Has this stranger enchanted your imagination?' he +inquired by way of answer.</p> + +<p>'No,' replied Zehowah scornfully. 'I have seen the +noblest, the most beautiful and the richest of the earth, +ready to take me to wife, and I have not loved. Shall +I love an outcast?'</p> + +<p>'Then how can you ask my wishes?'</p> + +<p>'Because there are good reasons why I should marry +this man.'</p> + +<p>'Good reasons? In the name of Allah let me hear +them, if there are any.'</p> + +<p>'You are old, my father,' said Zehowah, 'and it has +not pleased heaven to send you a son, nor to leave you +any living relation to sit upon the throne when your +years are accomplished. You must needs think of your +successor.'</p> + +<p>'The better reason for choosing some powerful prince, +whose territory shall increase the kingdom he inherits +from me, and whose alliance shall strengthen the +empire I leave behind me.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Istaghfir Allah! The worse reason. For such a +prince would be attached to his own country, and would +take me thither with him and would neglect the +kingdom of Nejed, regarding it as a land of strangers +whom he may oppress with taxes to increase his own +splendour. And this is not unreasonable, since no king +can wisely govern two kingdoms separated from each +other by more than three days' journey. No man can +have other than the one of two reasons for asking me in +marriage. Either he has heard of me and desires to +possess me, or he wishes to increase his dominions by +the inheritance which will be mine.'</p> + +<p>'Doubtless, this is the truth,' said the Sultan. 'But +so much the more does this stranger in all probability +covet my kingdom, since he has nothing of his own.'</p> + +<p>'This is what I mean. For, having no other possessions +to distract his attention, he will remain always +here, and will govern your kingdom for its own +advantage in order that it may profit himself.'</p> + +<p>'This is a subtle argument, my daughter, and one +requiring consideration.'</p> + +<p>'The more so because the man seems otherwise well +fitted to be my husband, since he is a true believer, and +young, and fearless and outspoken.'</p> + +<p>'But if this is all,' objected the Sultan, 'there are +in Nejed several young men, sons of my chief courtiers, +who possess the same qualifications. Choose one of them.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span></p> + +<p>'On the contrary, to choose one of them would arouse +the jealousy of all the rest, with their families and +slaves and freedmen, whereby the kingdom would easily +be exposed to civil war. But if I take a stranger it is +more probable that all will be for him, since you are +beloved, and there is no reason why one party should +oppose him and another support him, since none of them +know anything of him.'</p> + +<p>'But he will not be beloved by the people unless +he is liberal, and he has nothing wherewith to be +generous.'</p> + +<p>'And where are the treasures of Riad?' laughed +Zehowah. 'Is it not easy for you to go secretly to his +chamber and to give him as much gold as he needs?'</p> + +<p>'That is also true. I see that you have set your +heart upon him.'</p> + +<p>'Not my heart, my father, but my head. For I have +infinitely more head than heart, and I see that the +welfare of the kingdom will be better secured with such +a ruler, than it would have been under a foreign prince +whose right hand would be perpetually thrust out to +take in Nejed that which his left hand would throw to +courtiers in his own country. Do I speak wisdom or +folly?'</p> + +<p>'It is neither all folly nor all wisdom.'</p> + +<p>'I have seen this man, I have heard him speak,' said +Zehowah. 'He is as well as another since I must<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> +marry sooner or later. Moreover I have another +argument.'</p> + +<p>'What is that?'</p> + +<p>'Either he is a man strong enough to rule me, or he +is not,' Zehowah answered with a laugh. 'If he can +govern me, he can govern the kingdom of Nejed. But +if not I will govern it for him, and rule him also.'</p> + +<p>The Sultan looked up to heaven and slightly raised +his hands from his knees.</p> + +<p>'Allah is merciful and forgiving!' he exclaimed. +'Is this the spirit befitting a wife?'</p> + +<p>'Is it charity to cause happiness?'</p> + +<p>'Undoubtedly it is charity.'</p> + +<p>'And which is greater, the happiness of many or +the happiness of one?'</p> + +<p>'The happiness of many is greater,' answered the +Sultan. 'What then?' he asked after a time, seeing +that she said nothing more.</p> + +<p>'I have spoken,' she replied. 'It is best that I +should marry him.'</p> + +<p>Then there was silence for a long time, during which +the Sultan sat quite motionless in his place, watching +his daughter, while she looked idly through the lattice +at the people who came and went in the court below. +She seemed to feel no emotion.</p> + +<p>The Sultan did not know how to oppose Zehowah's +will any more than he could answer her arguments,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> +although his worldly wisdom was altogether at variance +with her decision. For she was the beloved child of +his old age and he could refuse her nothing. Moreover, +in what she had said, there was much which +recommended itself to his judgment, though by no +means enough to persuade him. At last he rose from +the carpet and embraced her.</p> + +<p>'If it is your will, let it be so,' he said.</p> + +<p>'It is the will of Allah,' answered Zehowah. 'Let +it be accomplished immediately.'</p> + +<p>With a sigh the Sultan withdrew and sent a messenger +to Khaled requesting him to come to another +and more secluded chamber, where they could be alone +and talk freely.</p> + +<p>Khaled showed no surprise on hearing that his suit +was accepted, but he thought it fitting to express much +gratitude for the favourable decision. Then the Sultan, +who did not wish to seem too readily yielding, began to +explain to Khaled Zehowah's reasons for accepting a +poor stranger, presenting them as though they were his +own.</p> + +<p>'For,' he said, 'whatever you may in reality be, you +have chosen to present yourself to us in such a manner +as would not have failed to bring about a refusal under +any other circumstances. But I have considered that +as it will be your destiny, if heaven grants you life, to +rule my kingdom after me, you will in all likelihood<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> +rule it more wisely and carefully, for having no other +cares in a distant country to distract your attention; +and because you have no relations you are the less +liable to the attacks of open or secret jealousy.'</p> + +<p>The Sultan then gave him a large sum of money in +gold pieces, which Khaled gladly accepted, since he had +not even wherewithal to buy himself a garment for the +wedding feast, still less to distribute gifts to the courtiers +and to the multitude. The Sultan also presented +him with a black slave to attend to his personal wants.</p> + +<p>Khaled then sent for merchants from the bazar, +and they brought him all manner of rich stuffs, such as +he needed. There came also two tailors, who sat down +upon a matting in his apartment and immediately +began to make him clothes, while the black slave sat +beside them and watched them, lest they should steal +any of the gold of the embroideries.</p> + +<p>When it was known in the palace that the Sultan's +only daughter was to be married at once, there were +great rejoicings, and many camels were slaughtered and +a great number of sheep, to supply food for so great a +feast. A number of cooks were hired also to help those +who belonged to the palace, for although the Sultan fed +daily more than three hundred persons, guests, travellers, +and poor, besides all the members of the household, yet +this was as nothing compared with the multitude to be +provided for on the present occasion.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span></p> + +<p>Then it was that Hadji Mohammed, the chief of the +cooks, sat down upon the floor in the midst of the main +kitchen and beat his breast and wept. For the confusion +was great so that the voice of one man could not +be heard for the diabolical screaming of the many, and +the cooks smote the young lads who helped them, and +these, running to escape from the blows, fell against the +porters who came in from outside bearing sacks of +sugar, and great baskets of fruit and quarters of meat +and skins of water, and bushels of meal and a hundred +other things equally necessary to the cooking; and the +porters, staggering under their burdens, fell between the +legs of the mules loaded with firewood, that had been +brought to the gate, and the dumb beasts kicked violently +in all directions, while the slaves who drove them struck +them with their staves, and the mules began to run +among the camels, and the camels, being terrified, rose +from the ground and began to plunge and skip like +young foals, while more porters and more mules and +more slaves came on in multitudes to the door of the +kitchen. And it was very hot, for it was noontide, and +in summer, and there were flies without number, and +the dogs that had been sleeping in the shade sprang up +and barked loudly and bit whomsoever they could +reach, and all the men bellowed together, so that the +confusion was extreme.</p> + +<p>'Verily,' cried Hadji Mohammed, 'this is not a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> +kitchen but Yemamah, and I am not the chief of the +cooks, but the chief of sinners and fuel for hell.' So he +wept bitterly and beat his breast.</p> + +<p>But at last matters mended, for there were many +who were willing to do well, so that when the time +came Hadji Mohammed was able to serve an honourable +feast to all, though the number of the guests was +not less than two thousand.</p> + +<p>But Khaled, having visited the bath, arrayed himself +magnificently and rode upon his bay mare to the +mosque, surrounded by the courtiers and the chief +officers of the state, and by a great throng of slaves +from the palace. As he rode, he scattered gold pieces +among the people from the bags which he carried, and +all praised his liberality and swore by Allah that +Zehowah was taking a very goodly husband. And as +none knew whence he came, all were equally pleased, +but most of all the Bedouins from the desert, of whom +there were many at that time in Riad, who had come to +keep the feast Bairam, for Khaled's own words had been +repeated, and they had heard that he came from the +desert like themselves. And when he had finished his +prayers, he rode back to the palace.</p> + +<p>When the time for the feast came the Sultan led +Khaled into the great hall and made him sit at his right +hand. The Sultan himself was magnificently dressed +and covered with priceless jewels, so that he shone like<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> +the sun among all the rest. Then he presented Khaled +to the assembly.</p> + +<p>'This,' said he, 'is Khaled, my beloved son-in-law, +the husband of my only daughter, whom it has pleased +Allah to send me, as the stay of my old age and as the +successor to my kingdom. He will be terrible in war +as Khaled ibn Walid, his namesake, the Sword of the +Lord, and gentle and just in peace as Abu Bakr of +blessed memory. He is as brave as the lion, as strong +as the camel, as swift as the ostrich, as sagacious as the +fox and as generous as the pelican, who feeds her +young with the blood of her own breast. Love him +therefore, as you have loved me, for he is extremely +worthy of affection, and hate his enemies and be faithful +to him in the time of danger. By the blessing of Allah +he shall rear up children to me in my old age, to be +with you when he is gone.'</p> + +<p>Thereupon Khaled turned and answered, speaking +modestly but with much dignity in his manner.</p> + +<p>'Ye men of Nejed, this is my marriage feast and I +invite you all to be merry with me. Whether it shall +please Allah to give me a long life, or whether it shall +please him to take me this night I know not. We are +in the hand of Allah. But this I do know. I will love +you as my own people, seeing that I have no people of +my own. I will fight for you as a man fights for his +own soul, for his wife and for his children, and I will<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> +divide justly the spoils in war, and give in peace whatsoever +I am able, to all those who are in need. I swear +by Allah! You are all witnesses.'</p> + +<p>The courtiers and all the guests were much pleased +with this short speech, for they saw that Khaled was a +man of few words and not proud or overbearing, and +none could look into his face and doubt his promise. +For the present moment at least Zehowah's prediction +had been verified, for no one was jealous of him, and +there was but one party among them all and that was +for him. So they all feasted together in harmony until +the sun was low.</p> + +<p>In the meantime Zehowah remained in the harem, +surrounded by her women, and a separate meal was +brought to them. They all sat upon the rich carpets +leaning on cushions set against the walls, and small +low tables were brought in, covered with dishes and +bowls containing delicately prepared rice and mutton +in great abundance and fresh blanket bread, hot from +the stones, and olives brought from Syria. Afterwards +came sweetmeats without number, such as Hadji +Mohammed knew how to prepare, and gold and silver +goblets filled with a drink made from large sweet +lemons and water, which is called 'treng.' Zehowah +indeed ate sparingly, for she was accustomed to such +dainties every day, but her women were delighted with +the abundance and left nothing to be taken away.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span></p> + +<p>While they were eating six of the women played +upon musical instruments by turns, while others +danced slow and graceful measures, singing as they +moved, and describing the unspeakable happiness +which awaited their princess in marriage. Afterwards +when the tables had been taken away and they had +washed their hands with rose water from Ajjem, Zehowah +commanded the singing and the dancing to cease, and +the women brought her one by one the dresses which +she was to wear before Khaled. They were very magnificent, +for it had needed many years to prepare them, +and a great weight of gold and silver threads had been +weighed out to the tailors and embroiderers who had +worked in the preparation of them ever since Zehowah +had been two years old. For the piece of material is +weighed first, and then the gold, and afterwards, when +the work is finished, the whole is weighed together, lest +the tailors should steal anything.</p> + +<p>But Zehowah looked coldly at the garments, one after +the other, as they were brought and taken away, and +the women fancied that she was to be married to the +stranger against her will, and that she remembered the +Indian prince.</p> + +<p>'It is a pity,' one of them ventured to say, 'that the +bridegroom has not brought any elephants with him, +for we would have watched them from the balconies, +since they are diverting beasts.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span></p> + +<p>'And it is a pity,' said Zehowah scornfully, 'that my +husband has not a round, soft face, like the moon in +May, and the eyes of a gazelle and the heart of a +hare. Truly, such a one would have made you a good +king, seeing that he was also an unbeliever!'</p> + +<p>'Nay,' said the woman humbly, 'Allah forbid that I +should make a comparison, or bring an ill omen on the +day by speaking of that which chanced a year ago. +Truly, I only spoke of elephants, and not of men. For, +surely, we all said when we saw him in the court that +he looked a brave warrior and a goodly man.'</p> + +<p>Then a messenger came from the Sultan saying that +it was time to make ready. So they went to another +apartment, where the nuptial chamber had been prepared. +The Sultan came, then, leading Khaled, and +followed by the Kadi, and all the women veiled themselves +while the latter read the declaration of marriage. +After that they all withdrew and Khaled took his seat +upon the high couch in the middle of the room. Presently +all the women returned, unveiled, with loud singing +and playing of instruments, leading Zehowah dressed +in the first of the dresses which she was to put on, and +which, though it was very splendid, was of course the +least magnificent of all those which had been prepared. +But Khaled sat in his place looking on quietly, for he +was acquainted with the custom, and he cared little for +the rich garments, but looked always into Zehowah's face.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III</h3> + + +<p>Khaled sat with his sword upon his feet, and when +Zehowah was not in the room he played with the hilt and +thought of all that was happening.</p> + +<p>'Truly,' he said to himself, 'Allah is great. Was I +not, but a few days since, one of the genii condemned +to perish at the day of the resurrection? And am I +not now a man, married to the most beautiful woman in +the whole world, and the wisest and the best, needing only +to be loved by her in order to obtain an undying soul? +And why should this woman not love me? Truly, we +shall see before long, when this mummery is finished.'</p> + +<p>So he sat on the couch while Zehowah was led before +him again and again each time in clothing more splendid +than before, and each time with new songs and new +music. But at the last time the attendants left her +standing before him and went away, and only a very +old woman remained at the door, screaming out in a +cracked voice the customary exhortations. Then she, +too, went away and the door was shut and Khaled and +Zehowah were alone.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span></p> + +<p>It was now near the middle of the night. The +chamber was large and high, lighted by a number of +hanging lamps such as are made in Bagdad, of brass +perforated with beautiful designs and filled with coloured +glasses, in each of which a little wick floats upon oil. +Upon the walls rich carpets were hung, both Arabian +and Persian, some taken in war as booty, and some +brought by merchants in time of peace. A brass chafing +dish stood at some distance from the couch, and upon +the coals the women had thrown powdered myrrh and +benzoin before they went away. But Khaled cared +little for these things, since he had seen all the treasures +of the earth in their most secret depositories.</p> + +<p>Zehowah had watched him narrowly during the ceremony +of the dresses and had seen that he felt no surprise +at anything which was brought before him.</p> + +<p>'His own country must be full of great wealth and +magnificence,' she thought, 'since so much treasure does +not astonish him.' And she was disappointed.</p> + +<p>Now that they were alone, he still sat in silence, +gazing at her as she stood beside him, and not even +thinking of any speech, for he was overcome and struck +dumb by her eyes.</p> + +<p>'You are not pleased with what I have shown you,' +Zehowah said at last in a tone of displeasure and disappointment. +'And yet you have seen the wealth of +my father's palace.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span></p> + +<p>'I have seen neither wealth nor treasure, neither +rich garments, nor precious stones nor chains of gold +nor embroideries of pearls,' Khaled answered slowly.</p> + +<p>But Zehowah frowned and tapped the carpet impatiently +with her foot where she stood, for she was +annoyed, having expected him to praise the beauty of +her many dresses.</p> + +<p>'They who have eyes can see,' she said. 'But if you are +not pleased, my father will give me a hundred dresses more +beautiful than these, and pearls and jewels without end.'</p> + +<p>'I should not see them,' Khaled replied. 'I have +seen two jewels which have dazzled me so that I can +see nothing else.'</p> + +<p>Zehowah gazed at him with a look of inquiry.</p> + +<p>'I have seen the eyes of Zehowah,' he continued, +'which are as the stars Sirius and Aldebaran, when +they are over the desert in the nights of winter. What +jewels can you show me like these?'</p> + +<p>Then Zehowah laughed softly and sat down beside +her husband on the edge of the couch.</p> + +<p>'Nevertheless,' she said, 'the dresses are very rich. +You might admire them also.'</p> + +<p>'I will look at them when you are not near me, for +then my sight will be restored for other things.'</p> + +<p>Khaled took her hand in his and held it.</p> + +<p>'Tell me, Zehowah, will you love me?' he asked in +a soft voice.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span></p> + +<p>'You are my lord and my master,' she answered, +looking modestly downward, and her hand lay quite +still.</p> + +<p>She was so very beautiful that as Khaled sat beside +her and looked at her downcast face, and knew that she +was his, he could not easily believe that she was cold +and indifferent to him.</p> + +<p>'By Allah!' he thought, 'can it be so hard to get a +woman's love? Truly, I think she begins to love me +already.'</p> + +<p>Zehowah looked up and smiled carelessly as though +answering his question, but Khaled was obliged to +admit in his heart that the answer lacked clearness, +for he found it no easier to interpret a woman's smile +than men had found it before him, and have found it +since, even to this day.</p> + +<p>'You have had many suitors,' he said at last, 'and it is +said that your father has given you your own free choice, +allowing you to see them and hear them speak while he +was receiving them. Tell me why you have chosen me +rather than the rest, unless it is because you love me? +For I came with empty hands, and without servants or +slaves, or retinue of any kind, riding alone out of the +Red Desert. It was therefore for myself that you took +me.'</p> + +<p>'You are right. It was for yourself that I took you.'</p> + +<p>'Then it was for love of me, was it not?'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span></p> + +<p>'There were and still are many and good reasons,' +answered Zehowah calmly, and at the same time withdrawing +her hand from his and smoothing back the +black hair from her forehead. 'I told them all to my +father, and he was convinced.'</p> + +<p>'Tell them to me also,' said Khaled.</p> + +<p>So she explained all to him in detail, making him +see everything as she saw it herself. And the explanation +was so very clear, that Khaled felt a cold chill in +his heart as he understood that she had chosen him +rather for politic reasons, than because she wished him +for her husband.</p> + +<p>'And yet,' she added at the end, 'it was the will of +Allah, for otherwise I would not have chosen you.'</p> + +<p>'But surely,' he said, somewhat encouraged by these +last words, 'there was some love in the choice, too.'</p> + +<p>'How can I tell!' she exclaimed, with a little laugh. +'What is love?'</p> + +<p>Finding himself confronted by such an amazing +question, Khaled was silent, and took her hand again. +For though many have asked what love is, no one +has ever been able to find an answer in words to +satisfy the questioner, seeing that the answer can have +no more to do with words than love itself, a matter +sufficiently explained by a certain wise man, who understood +the heart of man. If, said he, a man who loves a +woman, or a woman who loves a man could give in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> +words the precise reason why he or she loves, then love +itself could be defined in language; but as no man or +woman has ever succeeded in doing this, I infer that +they who love best do not themselves know in what +love consists—still less therefore can any one else know, +wherefore the definition is impossible, and no one need +waste time in trying to find it.</p> + +<p>A certain wit has also said that although it be impossible +for any man to explain the nature of love to +many persons at the same time, he generally finds it +easy to make his explanations to one person only. But +this is a mere quibbling jest and not deserving of any +attention.</p> + +<p>Zehowah expected an answer to her question, and +Khaled was silent, not because he was as yet too little +acquainted with the feelings of a man to give them +expression, but because he already felt so much that it +was hard for him to speak at all.</p> + +<p>Zehowah laughed and shook her head, for she was +not of a timid temper.</p> + +<p>'How can you expect me to say that I love you, +when you yourself are unable to answer such a simple +question?' she asked. 'And besides, are you not my +lord and my master? What is it then to you, whether +I love you or not?'</p> + +<p>But again Khaled was silent, debating whether he +should tell her the truth, how the angel had promised in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> +Allah's name that if she loved him he should obtain an +undying soul, and how the task of obtaining her love +had been laid upon him as a sort of atonement for having +slain the Indian prince. But as he reflected he +understood that this would probably estrange her all +the more from him.</p> + +<p>'Yet I can answer your question,' he said at last. +'What is love? It is that which is in me for you only.'</p> + +<p>'But how am I to know what that is?' asked +Zehowah, drawing up the smooth gold bracelets upon +her arm and letting them fall down to her wrist, so that +they jangled like a camel's bell.</p> + +<p>'If you love me you will know,' Khaled answered, +'for then, perhaps, you will feel a tenth part of what +I feel.'</p> + +<p>'And why not all that you feel?' she asked, looking +at him, but still playing with the bracelets.</p> + +<p>'Because it is impossible for any woman to love as +much as I love you, Zehowah.'</p> + +<p>'You mean, perhaps, that a woman is too weak to +love so well,' she suggested. 'And you think, perhaps, +that we are weak because we sit all our lives upon the +carpets in the harem eating sweetmeats, and listening +to singing girls and to old women who tell us tales of +long ago. Yet there have been strong women too—as +strong as men. Kenda, who tore out the heart of Kamsa—was +she weak?'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Women are stronger to hate than to love,' said +Khaled.</p> + +<p>'But a man can forget his hatred in the love of a +woman, and his strength also,' laughed Zehowah. 'I +would rather that you should not love me at all, than +that you should forget to be strong in the day of battle. +For I have married you that you may lead my people +to war and bring home the spoil.'</p> + +<p>'And if I destroy all your enemies and the enemies +of your people, will you love me then, Zehowah?'</p> + +<p>'Why should I love you then, more than now? +What has war to do with love? Again, I ask, what is +it to you whether I love you or not? Am I not your +wife, and are you not my master? What is this love +of which you talk? Is it a rich garment that you +can wear? A precious stone that you can fasten in +your turban? A rich carpet to spread in your house? +A treasure of gold, a mountain of ambergris, a bushel +of pearls from Oman? Why do you covet it? Am I +not beautiful enough? Then is love henna to make +my hair bright, or kohl to darken my eyes, or a boiled +egg with almonds to smooth my face? I have all these +things, and ointments from Egypt, and perfumes from +Syria, and if I am not beautiful enough to please you, +it is the will of Allah, and love will not make me +fairer.'</p> + +<p>'Yet love is beauty,' Khaled answered. 'For Kadijah<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> +was lovely in the eyes of the Prophet, upon whom +be peace, because she loved him, though she was a +widow and old.'</p> + +<p>'Am I a widow? Am I old?' asked Zehowah with +some indignation. 'Do I need the imaginary cosmetic +you call love to smooth my wrinkles, to lighten my eyes, +or to make my teeth white?'</p> + +<p>'No. You need nothing to make you beautiful.'</p> + +<p>'And for the matter of that, I can say it of you. You +tell me that you love me. Is it love that makes your +body tall and straight, your beard black, your forehead +smooth, your hand strong? Would not any woman +see what I see, whether you loved her or not? See! +Is your hand whiter than mine because you love and I +do not?'</p> + +<p>She laughed again as she held her hand beside his.</p> + +<p>'Truly,' thought Khaled, 'it is less easy than I supposed. +For the heart of a woman who does not love is +like the desert, when the wind blows over it, and there +are neither tracks nor landmarks. And I am wandering +in this desert like a man seeking lost camels.'</p> + +<p>But he said nothing, for he was not yet skilled in +the arguments of love. Thereupon Zehowah smiled, and +resting her cheek upon her hand, looked into his face, +as though saying scornfully, 'Is it not all vanity and +folly?'</p> + +<p>Khaled sighed, for he was disappointed, as a thirsty<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> +man who, coming to drink of a clear spring, finds +the water bitter, while his thirst increases and grows +unbearable.</p> + +<p>'Why do you sigh?' Zehowah asked, after a little +silence. 'Are you weary? Are you tired with the +feasting? Are you full of bitterness, because I do not +love you? Command me and I will obey. Are you +not my lord to whom I am subject?'</p> + +<p>He did not speak, but she drew him to her, so that +his head rested upon her bosom, and she began to sing +to him in a low voice.</p> + +<p>For a long time Khaled kept his eyes shut, listening +to her voice. Then, on a sudden, he looked up, and +without speaking so much as a word, he clasped her in +his arms and kissed her.</p> + +<p>Before it was day there was a great tumult in the +streets of Riad, of which the noise came up even to the +chamber where Khaled and Zehowah were sleeping. +Zehowah awoke and listened, wondering what had happened +and trying to understand the cries of the distant +multitude. Then she laid her hand upon Khaled's +forehead and waked him.</p> + +<p>'What is it?' he asked.</p> + +<p>'It is war,' she answered. 'The enemy have surprised +the city in the night of the feast. Arise and take +arms and go out to the people.'</p> + +<p>Khaled sprang up and in a moment he was clothed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> +and had girt on his sword. Then he took Zehowah in +his arms.</p> + +<p>'While I live, you are safe,' he said.</p> + +<p>'Am I afraid? Go quickly,' she answered.</p> + +<p>At that time the Sultan of Nejed was at war with +the northern tribes of Shammar, and the enemy had +taken advantage of the month of Ramadhan, in which +few persons travel, to advance in great numbers to Riad. +During the three days' feast of Bairam they had moved +on every night, slaying the inhabitants of the villages +so that not one had escaped to bring the news, and in +the daytime they had hidden themselves wherever they +could find shelter. But in the night in which Khaled +and Zehowah were married they reached the very walls +of the city, and waiting until all the people were asleep, +a party of them had climbed up upon the ramparts and +had opened one of the gates to their companions after +killing the guards.</p> + +<p>Khaled found his mare and mounted her without +saddle or bridle in his haste, then drawing his sabre +he rode swiftly out of the palace into the confusion. +The enemy with their long spears were driving the +panicstricken guards and the shrieking people before +them towards the palace, slaughtering all whom they +overtook, so that the gutters of the streets were already +flowing with blood, and the horses of the enemy +stumbled over the bodies of the defenders. The whole<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> +multitude of the pursued and the pursuers were just +breaking out of the principal street into the open space +before the palace when Khaled met them, a single man +facing ten thousand.</p> + +<p>'I shall certainly perish in this fight,' he said to +himself, 'and yet I shall not receive the reward of the +faithful, since Allah has not given me a soul. Nevertheless +certain of these dogs shall eat dirt before the +rest get into the palace.'</p> + +<p>So he pressed his legs to the bare sides of his mare +and lifted up his sword and rode at the foe, having +neither buckler, nor helmet, nor shirt of mail to protect +him, but only his clothes and his turban. But his arm +was strong, and it has been said by the wise that +it is better to fall upon an old lion with a reed than to +stand armed in the way of a man who seeks death.</p> + +<p>'Yallah! The Sword of the Lord!' shouted Khaled, in +such a terrible voice that the assailants ceased to kill for +a moment, and the terrified guards turned to see whence +so great a voice could proceed; and some who had seen +Khaled recognised him and ran to meet him, and the +others followed.</p> + +<p>When the enemy saw a single man riding towards +them across the great square before the palace, they +sent up a shout of derision, and turned again to the +slaughter of such of the inhabitants as could not extricate +themselves.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Shall one man stop an army?' they said. 'Shall a +fox turn back a herd of hyænas?'</p> + +<p>But when Khaled was among them they found less +matter for laughter. For the sword was keen, the mare +was swift to double and turn, and Khaled's hand was +strong. In the twinkling of an eye two of the enemy +lay dead, the one cloven to the chin, the other headless.</p> + +<p>Then a strange fever seized Khaled, such as he had +not heard of, and all things turned to scarlet before his +eyes, both the walls of the houses, and the faces and the +garments of his foes. Men who saw him say that his +face was white and shining in the dawn, and that the +flashing of the sword was like a storm of lightning about +his head, and after each flash there was a great rain of +blood, and a crashing like thunder as the horses and +men of the enemy fell to the earth.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, too, the soldiers of the city and the +Bedouins of the desert who were within the walls for +the feast, took courage, and turning fiercely began to +drive the assailants back by the way they had come, +towards the market-place in the bazar. But those behind +still kept pressing forward, while those in front were +driven back, and the press became so great that the +Shammars could no longer wield their weapons. The +enemy were crowded together like sheep in a fold, and +Khaled, with his men, began to cut a broad road through +the very midst of them, hewing them down in ranks<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> +and throwing them aside, as corn is harvested in +Egypt.</p> + +<p>But after some time Khaled saw that he was alone, +with a few followers, surrounded by a great throng of +the enemy, for some of his men had been slain after +slaying many of their foes, and some had not been able +to follow, being hindered at first by the heaps of dead +and afterwards by the multitude of their opponents who +closed in again over the bloody way through which +Khaled had passed.</p> + +<p>And now the Shammars saw that Khaled could not +escape them, and they pressed him on every side, but +the archers dared not shoot at him for fear of hitting +their own friends, if their arrows chanced to go by the +mark. Otherwise he would undoubtedly have perished, +since he had no armour, and not even a buckler with +which to ward off the darts. But they thrust at him +with spears and struck at him with their swords, and +wounded him more than once, though he was not +conscious of pain or loss of blood, being hot with the +fever of the fight. He was hard pressed therefore, and +while he smote without ceasing he began to know that +unless a speedy rescue came to him, his hour was at +hand. From the borders of the market-place, the men +of Riad could still see his sword flashing and striking, +and they still heard his fierce cry.</p> + +<p>He looked about him as he fought, and he saw that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> +he was now almost alone. One after another, the few +who had penetrated so far forward with him into the +press, were overwhelmed by numbers and fell bleeding +from a hundred wounds till only a score were left, and +Khaled saw that unless he could now cut his way free, +he must inevitably perish. But the press was stubborn +and a man might as well hope to make his way through +a herd of camels crowded together in a narrow street. +Then Khaled bethought him of a stratagem. He alone +was on horseback, for the enemy's riders had ridden +before, and he had met them in the street leading to the +palace, when he had himself slain many, and where the +rest were even now falling under the swords of the men +of Riad. And the few men who were with him were +also all on foot. Therefore looking across the market-place +he made as though he saw a great force coming +to his assistance, and he shouted with all his breath, +while his arm never rested.</p> + +<p>'Smite, men of Nejed!' he cried. 'For I see the +Sultan himself coming to meet us with five hundred horsemen! +Smite! Yallah! It is the Sword of the Lord!'</p> + +<p>Hearing these words, his men were encouraged, and +of the enemy many turned their heads to see the new +danger. But being on foot they were hindered from +seeing by the throng. Yet so much the more Khaled +shouted that the Sultan was coming, and many of the +heads that turned to look were not turned back again,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> +but rolled down to the feet of those to whom they had +belonged. The brave men who were with Khaled took +heart and hewed with all their might, taking up the cry +of their leader when they saw that it disconcerted their +foes, so that the last took fright, and the panic ran +through the whole multitude.</p> + +<p>'We shall be slain like sheep, and taken like locusts +under a mantle, for we cannot move!' they cried, and +they began to press away out of the market-place, forcing +their comrades before them into the narrow streets.</p> + +<p>But here many perished. For while every man in +Riad had taken his sword and had gone out of his house +to fight, the women had dragged up cauldrons of boiling +water, and also hand-mill stones, to the roofs, and they +scalded and crushed their retreating foes. Then too, as +the market-place was cleared, the soldiers came on from +the side of the palace, having slain all that stood in +their way and taken most of their horses alive, which +alone was a great booty, for there are not many horses +in Nejed besides those of the Sultan, though these are +the very best and fleetest in all Arabia. But the Shammars +of the north are great horse-breeders. So the +soldiers mounted and joined Khaled in the pursuit, +and a great slaughter followed in the streets, though +some of the enemy were able to escape to the gates, and +warn those of their fellows who were outside to flee to +the hills for safety, leaving much booty behind.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span></p> + +<p>At the time of the second call to prayer Khaled dismounted +from his mare in the market-place, and there +was not one of the enemy left alive within the walls. +Those who remember that day say that there were five +thousand dead in the streets in Riad.</p> + +<p>Khaled made such ablution as he could, and having +prayed and given thanks to Allah, he went back on foot +to the palace, his bay mare following him, and thrusting +her nose into his hand as he walked. For she was little +hurt, and the blood that covered her shoulders and her +flanks was not her own. But Khaled had many wounds +on him, so that his companions wondered how he was +able to walk.</p> + +<p>In the court of the palace the Sultan came to meet +him, and fell upon his neck and embraced him, for +many messengers had come, from time to time, telling +how the fight went, and of the great slaughter. And +Khaled smiled, for he thought that he should now win +the love of Zehowah.</p> + +<p>'Said I not truly that he is as brave as the lion, and +as strong as the camel?' cried the Sultan, addressing +those who stood in the court. 'Has he not scattered our +enemies as the wind scatters the sand? Surely he is +well called by the name Khaled.'</p> + +<p>'Forget not your own men,' Khaled answered, 'for +they have shared in the danger and have slain more +than I, and deserve the spoil. There was a score of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> +stout fellows with me at the last in the market-place, +whose faces I should know again on a cloudy night. +They fought as well as I, and it was the will of Allah +that their enemies should broil everlastingly and drink +boiling water. Let them be rewarded.'</p> + +<p>'They shall every one have a rich garment and a +sum of money, besides their share of the spoil. But as +for you, my beloved son, go in and rest, and bind up +your wounds, and afterwards there shall be feasting +and merriment until the night.'</p> + +<p>'The enemy is not destroyed yet,' answered Khaled. +'Command rather that the army make ready for the +pursuit, and when I have washed I will arm myself +and we will ride out and pursue the dogs until not one +of them is left alive, and by the help of Allah we will +take all Shammar and lay it under tribute and bring +back the women captive. After that we shall feast +more safely, and sleep without fear of being waked by a +herd of hyænas in our streets.'</p> + +<p>'Nay, but you must rest before going upon this +expedition,' objected the Sultan.</p> + +<p>'The true believer will find rest in the grave, and +feasting in paradise,' answered Khaled.</p> + +<p>'This is true. But even the camel must eat and drink +on the journey, or both he and his master will perish.'</p> + +<p>'Let us then eat and drink quickly, that we may the +sooner go.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span></p> + +<p>'As you will, let it be,' said the Sultan, with a sigh, +for he loved feasting and music, being now too old to +go out and fight himself as he had formerly done.</p> + +<p>Thereupon Khaled went into the harem and returned +to Zehowah's apartment. As he went the women +gathered round him with cries of gladness and songs of +triumph, staunching the blood that flowed from his +wounds with their veils and garments as he walked. +And others ran before to prepare the bath and to tell +Zehowah of his coming.</p> + +<p>When she saw him she ran forward and took him by +the hands and led him in, and herself she bathed his +wounds and bound them up with precious balsams of +great healing power, not suffering any of the women to +help her nor to touch him, but sending them away so +that she might be alone with Khaled.</p> + +<p>'I have slain certain of your enemies, Zehowah,' he +said, at last, 'and I have driven out the rest from the +city.' As yet neither of them had spoken.</p> + +<p>'Do you think that I have not heard what you have +done?' Zehowah asked. 'You have saved us all from +death and captivity. You are our father and our +mother. And now I will bring you food and drink +and afterwards you shall sleep.'</p> + +<p>'So you are well pleased with the doings of the husband +you have married,' he said.</p> + +<p>He was displeased, for he had supposed that she<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> +would love him for his deeds and for his wounds and +that she would speak differently. But though she +tended him and bound his wounds, and bathed his brow +with perfumed waters, and laid pillows under his head +and fanned him, as a slave might have done, he saw +that there was no warmth in her cheek, and that the +depths of her eyes were empty, and that her hands were +neither hot nor cold. By all these signs he knew that +she felt no love for him, so he spoke coldly to her.</p> + +<p>'Is it for me to be pleased or displeased with the +deeds of my lord and master?' she asked. 'Nevertheless, +thousands are even now blessing your name and +returning thanks to Allah for having sent them a +preserver in the hour of danger. I am but one of +them.'</p> + +<p>'I would rather see a faint light in your eyes, as of +a star rising in the desert than hear the blessings of all +the men of Nejed. I would rather that your hand were +cold when it touches mine, and your cheek hot when I +kiss it, than that your father should bestow upon me all +the treasures of Riad.'</p> + +<p>'Is that love?' asked Zehowah with a laugh. 'A +cold hand, a hot cheek, a bright eye?'</p> + +<p>Khaled was silent, for he saw that she understood +his words but not his meaning. It was now noon and +it was very hot, even in the inner shade of the harem, +and Khaled was glad to rest after the hard fighting,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> +for his many slight wounds smarted with the healing +balsam, and his heart was heavy and discontented.</p> + +<p>Then Zehowah called a slave woman to fan him with +a palm leaf, and presently she brought him meat and +rice and dates to eat, and cool drink in a golden cup, +and she sat at his feet while he refreshed himself.</p> + +<p>'How many did you slay with your own hand?' she +asked at last, taking up the good sword which lay beside +him on the carpet.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV</h3> + + +<p>Khaled pondered deeply, being uncertain what to do, +and trying to find out some action which could win for +him what he wanted. Zehowah received no answer to +her question as to the number of enemies he had slain +and she did not ask again, for she thought that he was +weary and wished to rest in silence.</p> + +<p>'What do you like best in the whole world?' he +asked after a long time, to see what she would say.</p> + +<p>'I like you best,' she answered, smiling, while she +still played with his sword.</p> + +<p>'That is very strange,' Khaled answered, musing. +But the colour rose darkly in his cheeks above his +beard, for he was pleased now as he had been displeased +before.</p> + +<p>'Why is it strange?' asked Zehowah. 'Are you not +the palm tree in my plain, and a tower of refuge for my +people?'</p> + +<p>'And will you dry up the well from which the tree +draws life, and take away the corner-stone of the tower's +foundation?'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span></p> + +<p>'You speak in fables,' said Zehowah, laughing.</p> + +<p>'Yet you imagined the fable yourself, when you +likened me to a palm and to a tower. But I am no +lover of allegories. The sword is my argument, and my +wit is in my arm. The wall by the tree is the wall of +love, and the chief foundation of the tower is the love of +Zehowah. If you destroy that, the tree will wither and +the tower will fall.'</p> + +<p>'Surely there was never such a man as you,' Zehowah +answered, half jesting but half in earnest. 'You +are as one who has bought a white mare; and though +she is fleet, and good to look at, and obedient to his +voice and knee, yet he is discontented because she +cannot speak to him, and he would fain have her black +instead of white, and if possible would teach her to sing +like a Persian nightingale.'</p> + +<p>'Is it then not natural in a woman to love man? +Have you heard no tales of love from the story-tellers of +the harem?'</p> + +<p>'I have heard many such tales, but none of them +were told of me,' Zehowah replied. 'Will you drink +again? Is the drink too sweet, or is it not cool?'</p> + +<p>She had risen from her seat and held the golden cup, +bending down to him, so that her face was near his. +He laid his hand upon her shoulder.</p> + +<p>'Hear me, Zehowah,' he said. 'I want but one thing +in the world, and it was for that I came out of the Red<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> +Desert to be your husband. And that thing I will +have, though the price be greater than rubies, or than +blood, or than life itself.'</p> + +<p>'If it is mine, I freely give it to you. If it is not +mine, take it by force, or I will help you to take it by +a stratagem, if I can. Am I not your wife?'</p> + +<p>She spoke thus, supposing from his face that he meant +some treasure that could be taken by strength or by +wile, for she could not believe a man could speak so +seriously of a mere thought such as love.</p> + +<p>'Neither my right hand nor your wit can give me +this, but only your heart, Zehowah,' he answered, still +holding her and looking at her.</p> + +<p>But now she did not laugh, for she saw that he was +greatly in earnest.</p> + +<p>'You are still talking of love,' she said. 'And you +are not jesting. I do not know what to answer you. +Gladly will I say, I love you. Is that all? What is it +else? Are those the words?'</p> + +<p>'I care little for the words. But I will have the +reality, though it cost your life and mine.'</p> + +<p>'My life? Will you take my life, for the sake of a +thought?'</p> + +<p>'A thought!' he exclaimed. 'Do you call love a +thought? I had not believed a woman could be so +cold as that.'</p> + +<p>'If not a thought, what then? I have spoken the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> +truth. If it were a treasure, or anything that can be +taken, you could take it, and I could help you. But if +the possibility of possessing it lie not in deeds, it lies +in thoughts, and is itself a thought. If you can teach +me, I will think what you will; but if you cannot teach +me, who shall? And how will it profit you to take my +life or your own?'</p> + +<p>'Is it possible that love is only a thought?' asked +Khaled, speaking rather to himself than to her.</p> + +<p>'It must be,' she answered. 'The body is what it is +in the eyes of others, but the soul is what it thinks +itself to be, happy or unhappy, loving or not loving.'</p> + +<p>'You are too subtle for me, Zehowah,' Khaled said. +'Yet I know that this is not all true.'</p> + +<p>For he knew that he possessed no soul, and yet he +loved her. Moreover he could think himself happy or +unhappy.</p> + +<p>'You are too subtle,' he repeated. 'I will take my +sword again and I will go out and fight, and pursue the +enemy and waste their country, for it is not so hard to +cut through steel as to touch the heart of a woman who +does not love, and it is easier to tear down towers and +strongholds of stone with the naked hands than to build +a temple upon the moving sand of an empty heart.'</p> + +<p>Khaled would have risen at once, but Zehowah took +his hand and entreated him to stay with her.</p> + +<p>'Will you go out in the heat of the day, wounded<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> +and wearied?' she asked. 'Surely you will take a +fever and die before you have followed the Shammars +so far as two days' journey.'</p> + +<p>'My wounds are slight, and I am not weary,' Khaled +answered. 'When the smith has heated the iron in +the forge, does he wait until it is cold before striking?'</p> + +<p>'But think also of the soldiers, who have striven +hard, and cannot thus go out upon a great expedition +without preparation as well as rest.'</p> + +<p>'I will take those whom I can find. And if they +will go with me, it is well. But if not, I will go alone, +and they and the rest will follow after.'</p> + +<p>'It is summer, too,' said Zehowah, keeping him back. +'Is this a time to go out into the northern desert? +Both men and beasts will perish by the way.'</p> + +<p>'Has not Allah bound every man's fate about his +neck? And can a man cast it from him?'</p> + +<p>'I know not otherwise, but if heat and hunger and +thirst do not kill the men, they will certainly destroy +the beasts, whose names are not recorded by Asrael, and +who have no destiny of their own.'</p> + +<p>'You hinder me,' said Khaled. 'And yet you do +not know how many of the Shammar may be yet lurking +within a day's march of the city, slaying your +people, burning their houses and destroying their harvest. +Let me go. Will you love me better if I stay?'</p> + +<p>'You will be the better able to get the victory.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Will you love me better if I stay?'</p> + +<p>'If you go now, you may fail in your purpose and +perish as well. How could I love you at all then?'</p> + +<p>'It is the victory you love then—not me?'</p> + +<p>'Could I love defeat? Nay, do not be angry with +me. Stay here at least until the evening. Think of +the burning sun and the raging thirst and the smarting +of your wounds which have only been dressed this first +time. Think of the soldiers, too——'</p> + +<p>'They can bear what I can bear. Was it not summer-time +when the Prophet went out against the Romans?'</p> + +<p>'I do not know. Stay with me, Khaled.'</p> + +<p>'I will come back when I have destroyed the +Shammars.'</p> + +<p>'And if the soldiers will not go with you, will you +indeed go out alone?'</p> + +<p>'Yes. I will go alone. When they see that they +will follow me. They are not foxes. They are brave +men.'</p> + +<p>Khaled rose and girt his sword about him. Zehowah +helped him, seeing that she could not persuade him to +stay.</p> + +<p>'Farewell,' he said, shortly, and without so much as +touching her hand he turned and went out. She followed +him to the door of the room and stood watching as he +went away.</p> + +<p>'One of us two was to rule,' she said to herself, 'and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> +it is he, for I cannot move him. But what is this talk +of love? Does he need love, who is himself the master?'</p> + +<p>She sighed and went back to the carpet on which +they had been sitting. Then she called in her women +and bid them tell her all they had heard about the fight +in the morning; and they, thinking to please her, extolled +the deeds of Khaled and of the tens he had slain +they made hundreds, and of the thousands of the +enemy's army, they made tens of thousands, till the +walls of Riad could not have contained the hosts of +which they spoke, and the dry sand of the desert could +not have drunk all the blood which had been shed.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Khaled went into the outer court of +the palace, where many soldiers were congregated together +in the shade of the high wall, eating camel's +meat and blanket bread and drinking the water from the +well. They were all able-bodied and unhurt, for those +who had been wounded were at their houses, tended by +their wives.</p> + +<p>'Men of Riad!' cried Khaled, standing before them. +'We have fought a good fight this morning and the +power of our foes is broken. But all are not yet destroyed, +and it may be that there are many thousands +still lurking within a day's march of the city, slaying +the people, burning their houses and destroying their +harvests. Let us go out and kill them all before they +are able to go back to their own country. Afterwards<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span> +we will pursue those who are already escaping, and we +will lay all the tribes of Shammar under tribute and +bring back the women captive.'</p> + +<p>Thereupon a division arose among the soldiers. +Some were for going at once with Khaled, but others +said it was the hot season and no time for war.</p> + +<p>'It is indeed summer,' said Khaled. 'But if the +Shammars were able to come to Riad in the heat, the +men of Riad are able to go to them. And I at least +will go at once, and those who wish to share the spoil +will go with me, but those who are satisfied to sit in +the shade and eat camel's meat will stay behind. In +an hour's time I will ride out of the northern gate.'</p> + +<p>So saying, Khaled rode slowly down into the city +towards the market-place. The people were carrying +away their own dead, and dragging off the bodies of +their enemies, with camels, by fours and fives tied together +to bury them in a great ditch without the walls. +When Khaled appeared, many of the men gathered +round him, with cries of joy, for they had supposed that +some of his wounds were dangerous and that they should +not see him for many days.</p> + +<p>'Wallah! He is with us again!' they shouted, jostling +each other to get near, and standing on tiptoe to see +the good mare that had carried him so well in the fight.</p> + +<p>'Masallah! I am with you,' answered Khaled, 'and +if you will go with me we will send many more of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> +Shammars to eat thorns and thistles, as many as dwell +in Kasim and Tabal Shammar as far as Haïl; and by +the help of Allah we will take the city of Haïl itself +and divide the spoil and bring away the women captive; +and when we have taken all that there is we will lay +the land under tribute and make it subject to Nejed. +So let those who will go with me arm themselves and +take every man his horse or his camel, and dates and +barley and water-skins, and in an hour's time we will +ride out. For Allah will certainly give us the victory.'</p> + +<p>'Let us bury the dead to-day and to-morrow we will +go,' said many of those nearest to him.</p> + +<p>'Are there no old men and boys in Riad to bind the +sheaves you have mown?' asked Khaled. 'And are +there no women to mourn over the dead of your kindred +who have fallen in a good fight? And as for to-morrow, +it is yet in Allah's hand. But to-day we have already +with us. However, if you will not go with me, I will +go alone.'</p> + +<p>The men were pleased with Khaled's speech, and +indeed the greater part of the dead were buried by this +time, for all the people had made haste to the work, +fearing lest the bodies should bring a pestilence among +them, since it was summer-time and very hot. Then +all those who were unhurt and could bear arms, went +and washed themselves, and took their weapons and +food, as Khaled had directed them. Before the call to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> +afternoon prayers the whole host went out of the +northern gate.</p> + +<p>Then Khaled accomplished all that he had spoken +of, and much more, for he drove the scattered force of +the enemy before him, overtaking all at last and slaying +all whom he overtook as far as Zulfah which is by the +narrow end of the Nefud. Here he rested a short time, +and then quickly crossing the sand, he entered the +country called Kasim which is subject to the Shammars. +Here he was told by a woman who had been taken +that the Shammars were coming with a new army +against him out of Haïl. He therefore hid his host in a +pass of the hills just above the plain, and sent down a +few Bedouins to encamp at the foot of the mountains, +bidding them call themselves Shammars and make a +show of being friendly to the enemy. So when the +army of the Shammars reached the foot of the hills, +they saw the tents and only one or two camels, and +Khaled's Bedouins came out and welcomed them, and +told them that Khaled was still crossing the Nefud, and +that if they made haste through the hills they might +come upon him unawares and at an advantage as he +began to ascend. Thereupon the enemy rejoiced and +entered the pass in haste, after filling their water-skins.</p> + +<p>When they were in the midst of the hills, Khaled +and his army sprang up from the ambush and fell upon +them, and utterly destroyed them, taking all their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> +horses and camels and arms; after which he went down +into the plain and laid waste the country about Haïl. +He took the city as the Shammars had taken Riad. +For he himself got upon the wall at night, with the +strongest and the bravest of his followers, and slew the +guards and opened the gate just before the dawn. But +there was no Khaled in Haïl to rally the soldiers and +give them heart to turn and make a stand in the streets.</p> + +<p>Khaled then entered the palace and took the Sultan +of Shammar alive, not suffering him to be hurt, for he +wished to bring him to Riad. This Sultan was a man of +middle age, having only one eye, and also otherwise ill-favoured, +besides being cowardly and fat. So Khaled +ordered that he should be put into a litter, and the +litter into a cage, and the cage slung between two +camels. But he commanded that the women of the +harem should be well treated and brought before him, +that he might see them, intending to bring back the +most beautiful of them as presents to his father-in-law.</p> + +<p>'Surely,' said the men who were with him, 'you will +keep the fairest for yourself.'</p> + +<p>But Khaled turned angrily upon them.</p> + +<p>'Have I not lately married the most beautiful woman +in the world?' he asked. 'I tell you it is for her sake +that I have destroyed the Shammars. But the Sultan +shall have the best of these women, and afterwards the +rest of them will be divided amongst you by lot.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span></p> + +<p>When the women heard that they were to be distributed +among the men of Nejed they at first made a +pretence of howling and beating their breasts, but they +rejoiced secretly and soon began to laugh and talk +among themselves, pointing out to each other the +strongest and most richly dressed of Khaled's +followers, as though choosing husbands among them. +But one of them neither wept nor spoke to her companions, +but stood silently watching Khaled, and when +he sat down upon a carpet in the chief kahwah of the +house, she brought him drink in a goblet set with pearls +from Katar, and sat down at his feet as though she had +been his wife. But he took little heed of her at first, +for he was busy with grave matters.</p> + +<p>The other women, seeing what she did, thought that +she was acting wisely in the hope of gaining Khaled's +favour, seeing that he was the chief of their enemies, so +they, too, came near, and brought water for his hands, +and perfumes, and sweetmeats, thinking to outdo her. +But she pushed them away, taking what they brought +for him, and offering it herself.</p> + +<p>'Are you better than we?' the women said angrily. +'Has our lord chosen you for himself, that you will not +let us come near him?'</p> + +<p>Then Khaled noticed her and began to wonder at +her attention and zeal.</p> + +<p>'What is your name?' he asked. But she did<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> +not speak. 'Who is she?' he inquired of the other +women.</p> + +<p>'She is an unbeliever,' they answered contemptuously. +'And she is proud, for she trusts in her white skin and +her blue eyes, and her hair which is red without henna. +She thinks she is better than we. Command us to +uncover our faces, that you may see and judge +between us.'</p> + +<p>'Let it be so. Let us see who is the fairest,' said +Khaled, and he laughed.</p> + +<p>Then the woman who sat at his feet threw aside her +veil, and all the others did the same. Khaled saw that +the one was certainly more beautiful than the rest, for +her skin was as white as milk, and her eyes like the sea +of Oman when it is blue in winter. She had also long +hair, plaited in three tresses which came down to her +feet, red as the locusts when the sun shines upon them +at evening, and not dyed.</p> + +<p>'There is a bay mare in a stable of black ones,' +Khaled said. 'What is the name of the bay mare?'</p> + +<p>'Her name is Aziz, and she is a Christian,' said one +of the women.</p> + +<p>'Not Aziz—Almasta,' said the beautiful woman in +an accent which showed that she could not speak Arabic +fluently. 'Almasta, a Christian.'</p> + +<p>'She was lately sent as a present to our master by +the Emir of Basrah,' said one of the others.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span></p> + +<p>'He paid a thousand and five hundred sequins for her, +for she was brought from Georgia,' said another. 'But +I am a free woman, and myself the daughter of an emir.'</p> + +<p>Then all the others began to scream.</p> + +<p>'It is a lie,' they cried. 'Your father was a white +slave from Syria.'</p> + +<p>'You are fools,' retorted the woman who had spoken. +'You should have said that you were also free women +and the daughters of emirs. So our lord would have +treated you with more consideration.'</p> + +<p>The others saw their folly and were silent and drew +back, but Khaled only smiled.</p> + +<p>'As good mares are bred in the stable as in the +desert,' he said, and the women laughed with him at the +jest, for they saw that it pleased him.</p> + +<p>But Almasta was silent and sat at his feet, looking +into his face.</p> + +<p>'You must learn to talk in Arabic,' he said, 'and then +you will be able to tell stories of your native country +to the Sultan, for he loves tales of travel.'</p> + +<p>Almasta smiled and bent her head a little, but she +did not understand all he said, being but lately come +into Arabia.</p> + +<p>'I will go with you,' she answered.</p> + +<p>'Yes. You will go with me to Riad to the Sultan, +and perhaps he will make you his wife, for he has none +at present.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span></p> + +<p>'I will go with you,' she repeated, looking at him.</p> + +<p>'She does not understand you,' said the women, +laughing at her ignorance of their own tongue.</p> + +<p>'It is no matter,' said Khaled. 'She will learn in +due time. Perhaps it has pleased Allah to send my +lord the Sultan a wife without a tongue for a blessing +in his old age.'</p> + +<p>'I will go with you,' Almasta said again.</p> + +<p>'She can say nothing else,' jeered the women.</p> + +<p>One of them pulled her by her upper garment, so +that she looked round.</p> + +<p>'Can you say this, "My father was a dog and the +son of dogs"?' asked the woman.</p> + +<p>But Almasta pushed her angrily away, for she half +understood. Then the woman grew angry too, and +shook her fist in Almasta's face.</p> + +<p>'If you fight, you shall eat sticks,' said Khaled, and +then they were all quiet.</p> + +<p>Thus he took possession of the city of Haïl and remaining +there some time he reduced all the country to submission, +so that it remained a part of the kingdom of Nejed for +many years after that. For the power of the Shammars +was broken, and they could nowhere have mustered a +thousand men able to bear arms. Khaled set a governor +in the place of the Sultan and ordered all the laws of +the country in the same manner as those of Nejed, and +after he had been absent from Riad nearly two months,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> +he set aside a part of his force to remain behind and +keep the peace in case there should be an outbreak, +and with the rest he began to journey homeward, taking +a great spoil and many captives with him.</p> + +<p>During the march most of the women captives rode +on camels, but a few of the most beautiful were taken +in litters lest the fatigues of riding should injure their +appearance and thus diminish their value. Almasta +was one of these, and the Sultan of Haïl was taken in a +cage as has been said, though he was not otherwise ill-treated, +and received his portion of camel's meat and +bread, equal to that of the soldiers.</p> + +<p>Khaled sent messengers on fleet mares to Riad to +give warning of his coming, but he could not himself +proceed very quickly, because his army was burdened +with so much spoil; and as there was now no haste to +overtake an enemy he journeyed chiefly at night, resting +during the day wherever there was water, for although +the summer was far advanced it was still hot. He +thought continually of Zehowah, by day in his tent and +by night on the march, for he supposed that she would +be glad when she heard of the victory and that she +would now love him, because he had avenged her people, +and taken Haïl, and brought back gold and captives, +besides other treasures.</p> + +<p>'She was already pleased with my deeds, before we +left Riad,' he thought, 'for she asked me how many of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> +the Shammars I had slain with my own hand, and at +the last she wished me to stay with her, most probably +that I might tell her more about the fight. How much +the more will she be glad now, since I have killed so +many more and have brought back treasure, and made +a whole country subject to her father. Shall not blood +and gold buy the love of a woman?'</p> + +<p>It chanced once during this journey that Khaled +was sitting at the door of his tent after the sun had +gone down and before the night march had begun. +Upon the one side, at a little distance, was the tent of +the women captives who had been taken from the palace +in Haïl, and upon the other the soldiers had set down +the cage in which the Sultan of Shammar was carried. +The men had laid a carpet over the cage to keep the +sun from the prisoner during the heat of the day, lest +he should not reach Riad alive as Khaled desired. For +the Sultan was fat and of a choleric temper. Now the +soldiers had given him food but had forgotten to bring +him water, and it was hot under the carpet now that +the evening had come. But he could lift it up a little +on one side, and having done so, he began to cry out, +cursing Khaled and railing at him, not knowing that he +was so near at hand.</p> + +<p>'Oh you whose portion it shall be to broil everlastingly, +and to eat thistles and thorns, and to lie +bound in red-hot chains as I lie in this cage! Have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span> +you brought me out into the desert to die of thirst like +a lame camel? Surely your entertainment on the day +of judgment shall be boiling water and the fruit of +Al Zakkam, and whenever you try to get out of hell +you shall be dragged back again and beaten with iron +clubs, and your skin shall dissolve, and the boiling +water shall be poured upon your head!'</p> + +<p>In this way the captive cried out, for he was very +thirsty. But when Khaled saw that no one gave him +water he called in the darkness to the women who sat +by their tent.</p> + +<p>'Fetch water and give the man to drink,' he said.</p> + +<p>One of the women rose quickly and filled a jar at the +well close by, and took it to the cage. But then the +railing and cursing broke out afresh, so that Khaled +wondered what had happened.</p> + +<p>'Who has sent me this unbelieving woman to +torture me with thirst?' cried the prisoner. 'Are you +not Aziz whom I was about to take for my fourth wife +on account of your red hair? But your hair shall be a +perpetual flame hereafter, burning the bones of your +head, and your flesh shall be white with heat as iron in +a forge. If I were still in my kingdom you should eat +many sticks! If Allah delivers me from my enemies +I will cause your skin to be embroidered with gold for +a trapping to my horse!'</p> + +<p>The moon rose at this time, being a little past the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> +full, and Khaled looked towards the cage and saw that +the woman was standing two paces away from the +Sultan's outstretched hand. She dabbled in the cool +water with her fingers so that a plashing sound was +heard, and then drank herself, and scattered afterwards +a few drops in the face of the thirsty captive.</p> + +<p>'It is good water,' she said. 'It is cold.'</p> + +<p>Khaled knew from her broken speech that it was +Almasta, and he understood that she was torturing the +prisoner with the sound and sight of the water, and +with her words. So he rose from his place and went +to the cage.</p> + +<p>'Did I not tell you to give him drink?' he asked, +standing before the woman.</p> + +<p>'Oh my lord, be merciful,' cried the captive, when he +saw that Khaled himself was there. 'Be merciful and +let me drink, for your heart is easily moved to pity, +and by an act of charity you shall hereafter sit in the +shade of the tree Sedrat and drink for ever of the wine +of paradise.'</p> + +<p>'I do not desire wine,' said Khaled. 'But you shall +certainly not thirst. Give him the jar,' he said to +Almasta. But she shook her head.</p> + +<p>'He is bad and ugly,' she said. 'If he does not +drink, he will die.'</p> + +<p>Then Khaled put out his hand to take the jar of +water, but Almasta threw it violently to the ground,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span> +and it broke to pieces. Thereupon the captive began +again to rail and curse at Almasta and to implore +Khaled with many blessings.</p> + +<p>'You shall drink, for I will bring water myself,' said +Khaled. He went back to his tent and took his own +jar to the well, and filled it carefully.</p> + +<p>When he turned he saw that Almasta was running +from his tent towards the cage, with a drawn sword in +her hand. He then ran also, and being very swift of +foot, he overtook her just as she thrust at the Sultan +through the bars. But the sword caught in the folds of +the soft carpet, and Khaled took it from her hand, and +thrust her down so that she fell upon her knees. Then +he gave the prisoner the jar with the water that +remained in it, for some had been spilt as he ran.</p> + +<p>'Who has given you the right to kill my captives?' +he asked of Almasta.</p> + +<p>'Kill me, then!' she cried.</p> + +<p>'Indeed, if you were not so valuable, I would cut off +your head,' Khaled answered. 'Why do you wish me +to kill you?'</p> + +<p>'I hate him,' she said, pointing to the captive who +was drinking like a thirsty camel.</p> + +<p>'That is no reason why I should kill you. Go back +to the tents.'</p> + +<p>But Almasta laid her hand on the sword he held +and tried to bring it to her own throat.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span></p> + +<p>'This is a strange woman,' said Khaled. 'Why do +you wish to die? You shall go to Riad and be the +Sultan's wife.'</p> + +<p>'No, no!' she cried. 'Kill me! Not him, not +him!'</p> + +<p>'Of whom do you speak?'</p> + +<p>'Him!' she answered, again pointing to the prisoner. +'Is he not the Sultan?'</p> + +<p>Khaled laughed aloud, for he saw that she had +supposed she was to be taken to Riad to be made the +wife of the Sultan of Shammar. Indeed, the other +women had told her so, to anger her.</p> + +<p>'Not this man,' he said, endeavouring to make her +understand. 'There is another Sultan at Riad. The +Sultan of Shammar is one, the Sultan of Nejed another.'</p> + +<p>'You?' she asked, suddenly springing up. 'With +you?'</p> + +<p>The moon was bright and Khaled saw that her eyes +gleamed like stars and her face grew warm, and when +she took his hands her own were cold.</p> + +<p>'No, not I,' he answered. 'I am not the Sultan.'</p> + +<p>But her face became grey in the moonlight, and she +covered her head with her veil and went slowly back to +her tent.</p> + +<p>'This woman loves me,' Khaled thought. 'And as +I have not talked much with her, it must be because I +am strong and have conquered the people among whom<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span> +she was captive. How much the more then, will +Zehowah love me, for the same reason.'</p> + +<p>So he was light of heart, and soon afterwards he +commanded everything to be made ready and mounted +his bay mare for the night march.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V</h3> + + +<p>When Khaled was within half a day's march of Riad, +the Sultan came out to meet him with a great train of +attendants and courtiers, with cooks bringing food and +sweetmeats, and a number of musicians. And they all +encamped together for a short time in the shade of the +trees, for there were gardens in the place. The Sultan +embraced Khaled and put upon him a very magnificent +garment, after which they sat down together in a large +tent which the Sultan had brought with him. When +they had eaten and refreshed themselves they began to +talk, and Khaled told his father-in-law all that he had +done, and gave him an account of the spoils which he +had brought back, commanding the most valuable +objects to be brought into the tent. After this the +Sultan desired to see the women captives.</p> + +<p>'There is one especially whom it may please you to +take for yourself,' said Khaled, and he ordered Almasta +to be brought in.</p> + +<p>When the male slaves had left the tent, Almasta +drew aside her veil. The Sultan looked at her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> +and smiled, stroking his beard, for he was much +pleased.</p> + +<p>'Her face is like a pearl and her hair is a setting of +red gold,' he said. 'Truly she is like the sunrise on a +fair morning when there are red clouds in the east.'</p> + +<p>Almasta looked attentively at him, and afterwards she +glanced at Khaled, who could not avoid looking at her +on account of her beauty. Her face was grave and +indifferent. Then Khaled told the Sultan how she had +hated the Sultan of Shammar and had tried to kill him +on the journey.</p> + +<p>'This is a dangerous woman, my son,' said the old +man. But he laughed as he said it, for although he +was old, he was no coward. 'She is dangerous, indeed. +Will you love me, pearl of my soul's treasures?' he +inquired of her, still smiling.</p> + +<p>'You are my lord and my master,' she answered, +looking down.</p> + +<p>When Khaled heard this he wondered whether his +father-in-law would get any affection from her. Zehowah +had answered in the same words.</p> + +<p>'By Allah, I will give you such gifts as will make +you love me,' said the Sultan. 'What shall I give +you?'</p> + +<p>'His head,' answered Almasta, raising her eyes +quickly.</p> + +<p>'The head of the Sultan of Shammar?'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span></p> + +<p>Almasta nodded, and Khaled could see that her lips +trembled.</p> + +<p>'A dead man has no companions,' said the Sultan, +looking at Khaled to see what he would do. But +Khaled cared little, and said nothing.</p> + +<p>So the Sultan called a slave and ordered the captive's +head to be struck off immediately. Then Almasta +threw herself upon the carpet on the floor of the tent +and embraced his feet.</p> + +<p>'See how easily the love of a woman is got,' Khaled +thought, 'even by an old man whose beard is grey and +his limbs heavy.'</p> + +<p>When Almasta rose again, she looked at Khaled +triumphantly, as though to remind him of the night on +the journey when he had hindered her from killing the +captive in his cage. But though he understood her, he +held his peace, for he had cared nothing whether the +prisoner lived or died after he had delivered him over to +his father-in-law, and he was considering whether he +might not please Zehowah in some similar manner. This +was not easy, however, for he was not aware that Zehowah +had any private enemy, whose head he might offer her.</p> + +<p>After the Sultan had seen the other women and the +best of the spoils, Khaled begged that he might be +allowed to ride on into Riad alone, for he saw that the +Sultan intended to spend the night in feasting where he +had encamped. The Sultan was so much pleased with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> +Almasta and so greatly diverted in examining the rich +stuffs and the gold and silver vessels and jewels, that he +let Khaled go, almost without trying to detain him, +though he made him many speeches praising his conduct +of the war, and would have loaded him with gifts. +But Khaled would take nothing with him, saying that he +would only receive his just share with the rest; and the +fame of his generosity immediately went abroad among +the soldiers and the Bedouins throughout all the camp.</p> + +<p>'For,' said Khaled, 'there is not a fleeter mare than +mine among all those we have taken; my sword proves +to be a good one, for I have tried it well; as for women, +I am satisfied with one wife; and besides a wife, a +sword and a horse, there are no treasures in the world +which I covet.'</p> + +<p>So Khaled rode away alone into Riad, for he desired +no company, being busy with his own thoughts. He +reached the gates at nightfall and went immediately to +the palace and entered Zehowah's apartments. He +found her sitting among her women in her accustomed +place, listening to the tales of an old woman who +sat in the midst of the circle. As soon as Zehowah saw +her husband she sprang up gladly to meet him, as a +friend would have done.</p> + +<p>'Though it is summer-time, I have pursued the enemy,' +said Khaled. 'And though the sun was hot, I have got +the victory and brought home the spoil.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span></p> + +<p>He said this remembering how she had tried to +hinder him from going. Then he gave her his sword +and he sat down with her, while the women brought +food and drink, for he was weary, and hungry and +thirsty. The women also brought their musical instruments +and began to sing songs in praise of Khaled's +deeds; but after a time he sent them all away and remained +alone with Zehowah.</p> + +<p>'O Zehowah,' he said, 'you are my law and my rule. +You are my speech and my occupation. You are my +Kebla to which I turn in prayer. For the love of you +I have got the victory over many foes. And yet I see +that your cheek is cold and the light of your eyes is +undisturbed. Have you no other enemies for me to +destroy, or have you no secret foe whose head would be +a pleasant gift?'</p> + +<p>Zehowah laughed, as she fanned him with a palm leaf.</p> + +<p>'Do you still thirst for war, Khaled?' she asked. +'Truly you have swallowed up all our enemies as the +dry sand swallows up water. Where shall I find +enemies enough for you to slay? You went out in +pride and you have returned in glory. Are you not yet +satisfied? And as for any secret foe, if I have any I +do not know him. Rest, therefore; eat and drink and +spend your days in peace.'</p> + +<p>'I care little for either food or drink,' Khaled answered, +'and I need little rest.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Will nothing but war please you? Must you overcome +Egypt and make Syria pay tribute as far as +Damascus before you will rest?'</p> + +<p>'I will conquer the whole world for you, if you wish +it,' said Khaled.</p> + +<p>'What should I do with the world?' asked Zehowah. +'Have I not treasures and garments enough and to spare, +besides the spoil you have now brought home? And +besides, if you would conquer the world you must needs +make war upon true believers, amongst whom we do +not count the people of Shammar. Be satisfied therefore +and rest in peace.'</p> + +<p>'How shall I be satisfied until I have kindled the +light in Zehowah's eyes at my coming, and until I feel +that her hand is cold and trembles when I take it in +mine?'</p> + +<p>'Do I say to my eyes, "be dull"—or to my hand, "do +not tremble"?' Zehowah asked. 'Is this, which you +ask of me, something I can command at will, as I +can a smile or a word? If it is, teach me and I will +learn. But if not, why do you expect of me what I +cannot do? Can a camel gallop like a horse, or a horse +trot like a camel, or bear great burdens through the +desert? Have you come back from a great war only +to talk of this something which you call love, which is +yours and not mine, which you feel and I cannot feel, +which you cannot explain nor describe, and which, after<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span> +all, is but a whim of the fancy, as one man loves sour +drink and another sweet?'</p> + +<p>'Do you think that love is nothing but a whim of +the fancy?' asked Khaled bitterly.</p> + +<p>'What else can it be? Would you love me if you +were blind?'</p> + +<p>'Yes.'</p> + +<p>'And if you were deaf?'</p> + +<p>'Yes.'</p> + +<p>'And if you could not touch my face with your +hands, nor kiss me with your lips?'</p> + +<p>'Yes.'</p> + +<p>Zehowah laughed.</p> + +<p>'Then love is indeed a fancy. For if you could not +see me, nor touch me, nor hear me, what would remain +to you but an empty thought?'</p> + +<p>'Have I seen you, or touched you, or heard your +voice for these two months and a half?' asked Khaled. +'Yet I have loved you as much during all that time.'</p> + +<p>'You mean that you have thought of me, as I have +thought of you, by the memory of what was not fancy, +but reality. Would you dispute with me, Khaled? +You will find me subtle.'</p> + +<p>'There is more wit in my arm than in my head,' +Khaled answered, 'and it is not easy for a man to +persuade a woman.'</p> + +<p>'It is very easy, provided that the man have reason<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> +on his side. But where are the treasures you have +brought back, the slaves and the rich spoils? I would +gladly see some of them, for the messengers you sent +told great tales of the riches of Haïl.'</p> + +<p>'To-morrow they will be brought into the city. +Your father has remained feasting in the gardens +towards Dereyiyah, and the whole army with him. I +rode hither alone.'</p> + +<p>'Why did you not remain too?'</p> + +<p>'Because that whim of the fancy which I call love +brought me back,' Khaled answered.</p> + +<p>'Then I am glad you love me,' said Zehowah. 'For +I am glad you came quickly.'</p> + +<p>'Are you truly glad?'</p> + +<p>'I was very tired of my women,' she answered. 'I +am sorry you have brought nothing with you. Are +there any among the captives who are beautiful?'</p> + +<p>'There is one, a present sent lately to the Sultan of +Shammar. She is very beautiful, and unlike all the +rest. Your father is much pleased with her, and will +perhaps marry her.'</p> + +<p>'Of what kind is her beauty?' asked Zehowah.</p> + +<p>'She is as white as milk, her eyes are twin sapphires, +her mouth is a rose, her hair is like gold reddened in +fire.'</p> + +<p>Zehowah was silent for a while, and twisted a string +of musk-beads round her fingers.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span></p> + +<p>'The others are all Arabian women,' Khaled said at +last.</p> + +<p>'Why did you not keep the beautiful one for yourself?' +asked Zehowah, suddenly throwing aside her +beads and looking at him curiously. 'Surely you, who +have borne the brunt of the war, might have chosen for +yourself what pleased you best.'</p> + +<p>Khaled looked at her in great astonishment.</p> + +<p>'Have I not married Zehowah? Would you have +me take another wife?'</p> + +<p>'Why not? Is it not lawful for a man to take +four wives at one time? And this woman might have +loved you, as you desire to be loved.'</p> + +<p>'Would it be nothing to you, if I took her?'</p> + +<p>'Nothing. I am the King's daughter. I shall +always be first in the house. I say, she might love you. +Then you would be satisfied.'</p> + +<p>'Zehowah, Zehowah!' cried Khaled. 'Is love a +piece of gold, that it matters not whence it be, so long +as a man has it in his own possession? Or is it wood +of the 'Ood tree that one may buy it and bring it home +and make the whole house fragrant with it? Is a +man's heart like his belly, which is alike satisfied with +different kinds of food?'</p> + +<p>'He who eats, knows by the taste whether he eats +Persian mutton, or barley bread, or only broiled locusts. +But a man who believes that he is loved, knows that he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> +is loved, so far as knowing is possible, and must be +satisfied, if to be loved is what he desires.'</p> + +<p>'That may be true. But he who desires bread is not +satisfied with locusts. It is your love which I would +have. Not the love of another.'</p> + +<p>'You are like a man who hopes to get by argument +a sum of money from one who has nothing,' said +Zehowah, smiling at him. 'Can you make gold grow +in the purse of a beggar? Or can you cause a ghada +bush to bear dates by reasoning with it? Your heart is +a palm tree, but mine is a ghada bush.'</p> + +<p>'Yet an angel may touch the ghada and it will bear +fruit,' answered Khaled, for he remembered how the +angel had turned dry leaves into rich garments for him +to wear.</p> + +<p>'Doubtless, Allah can do all things. But where is +the angel? Hear me, Khaled, for I speak very reasonably, +as a wife should speak to her husband, who is her lord +and master. My lord is not satisfied with me and +desires something of me which is not mine to give. +Let him take another wife beside me. I have given +my lord a kingdom and great riches and power. +Let him take another wife now, who will give him +this fancy of his thoughts for which he yearns, though +she have no other possessions. In this way my lord will +be satisfied.'</p> + +<p>Khaled listened sadly to what Zehowah said, and he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> +began to despair, for he was not subtle in argument nor +eloquent in speech. The reason of this was plain. In +the days when he had been one of the genii he had +wandered over the whole earth and had heard the +eloquence of all nations and the arguments of all +philosophers, learning therefrom that deeds are no part +of words, and that they who would be believed must +speak little and do much. But the genii possess no +insight into the hearts of women.</p> + +<p>Khaled reflected also that the length of life granted +him was uncertain, and that he had already spent two +months and a half at a distance from Zehowah in +accomplishing the conquest whereby he had hoped to +win her love. But since this had utterly failed, he cast +about in his mind for some new deed to do, which could +be done without leaving her even for a short time. +But he was troubled by her indifference, and most of +all by her proposing that he should take another wife. +As he thought of this, he was filled with horror, and he +understood that he loved Zehowah more than he had +supposed, since he could not bear to think of setting +another woman beside her.</p> + +<p>Then his face became very dark and his eyes were +like camp fires far off in the desert, and he took +Zehowah's wrist in his hand, holding it tightly as +though he would not let it go. As his heart grew hot +in his breast, words came to his lips unawares like the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span> +speech of a man in a dream, and he heard his own voice +as it were from a distance.</p> + +<p>'I will not take another,' he said. 'What is the love +of any other woman to me? It is as dust in the throat +of a man thirsting for water. Show me a woman who +loves me. Her face shall be but a cold mirror in which +the image of a fire is reflected without warmth, her soft +words shall be to me as the screaming of a parrot, her +touch a thorn and her lips ashes. What is it to me if +all the women of the world love me? Kindle a fire and +burn them before me, for I care not. Let them perish +all together, for I shall not know that they are gone. I +love you and not another. Shall it profit a man to fill +his mouth with dust, though it be the dust of gold +mingled with precious stones, when he desires water? +Or shall he be warmed in winter by the reflection of a +fire in a mirror? By Allah! I want neither the wealth +of Haïl, nor a wife with red hair. Let them take +gold who do not ask for love. I want but one thing, +and Zehowah alone can give it to me. Wallah! My +heart burns. But I would give it to be burned for ever +in hell if I might get your love now. This I ask. This +only I desire. For this I will suffer and for this I am +ready to die before my time.'</p> + +<p>Zehowah was silent, looking at him with wonder, and +yet not altogether pleased. She saw that she could not +understand him, though she did as well as she could.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Has he not all that the heart of man can desire?' +she thought. 'Am I not young and beautiful, and +possessed of many jewels and treasures? Have I not +given him wealth and power, and has he not with his +own hand got the victory over his enemies and mine? +And yet he is not satisfied. Surely, he is too hard to +please.'</p> + +<p>But he, reading her thoughts from her face, continued +in his speech.</p> + +<p>'What is all the happiness of the world without +love?' he asked. 'It is like a banquet in which many +rich viands are served, but the guests cannot eat them +because there is no salt in any of them. And what is +a beautiful woman without love? She is like a garden +in which there are all kinds of rare flowers, and much +grass, and deep shade, but in which a man cannot live, +because nothing grows there which he can eat when he +is hungry.'</p> + +<p>'Truly,' said Zehowah, 'that is what you will make +of your life. For there is a garden called Irem, planted +in a secret place of the deserts about Aden, by Sheddad +the son of Ad, who desired to outdo the gardens of +paradise, and was destroyed for his impiety with all his +people, by the hand of Allah. But a certain man +named Abdullah ibn Kelabah was searching in the +desert for a lost camel, and came unawares upon this +place. There were fruits and water there and all that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span> +a man could wish for, and Abdullah dwelt in peace and +plenty, praising Allah. Then on a certain day he +desired to eat an onion, and finding none anywhere, he +went out, intending to obtain one, and having eaten it, +to return immediately. But though he searched the +desert many months he was never able to find the +garden again. Wherefore it is said that Abdullah ibn +Kelabah lost the earthly paradise of Irem for a mouthful +of onion.'</p> + +<p>'How can you understand me if you do not love +me?' asked Khaled. 'Love has its own language, and +when two love they understand each the other's words. +But when the one loves and the other loves not, they +are strangers, though they be man and wife; or they are +like Persians and Arabians not understanding either the +other's speech, or that if the wife cries "father," her +husband will bring her a cup of water supposing her to +be thirsty. For those who would speak one language +must be of one heart, and they who would be of one +heart must love each other.'</p> + +<p>Then Zehowah sighed and leaned against the cushions +by the wall and drew her hand away from Khaled.</p> + +<p>'What is it?' she asked in a low voice. 'What is it +you would have?' But though she had already asked +the question many times she found no answer, and none +that he was able to give could enlighten her darkness.</p> + +<p>'It is the spark that kindles the flame,' Khaled said,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> +and he pointed to the lights that hung in the room. +'Your beauty is like that of a cunningly designed lamp, +inlaid with gold and silver and covered with rich ornament, +which is seen by day. But there is no light +within, and it is cold, though it be full of oil and the +wick be ready.'</p> + +<p>Zehowah turned towards him somewhat impatiently.</p> + +<p>'And you are as one who would kindle the flame +with words, having no torch,' she answered.</p> + +<p>'Have I not done deeds also?' asked Khaled. 'Or +have I spoken much, that you should reproach me? +Surely I have slain more of your enemies than I have +spoken words to you to-night.'</p> + +<p>'But have I asked for an offering of blood, or a +marriage dower of dead bodies?'</p> + +<p>Khaled was silent, for he was bitterly disappointed, +and as his eyes fell upon the sword which hung on the +wall, he felt that he could almost have taken it and +made an end of Zehowah for very anger that she would +not love him. Had he not gone out for her into the +raging heat of summer, and borne the burden of a great +war, and destroyed a nation and taken a city? Moreover, +if neither words nor deeds could gain her love, +what means remained to him to try?</p> + +<p>All through the night Khaled pondered, calling up +all that he had seen in the world in former times, until +he fell asleep at last, wearied in heart.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span></p> + +<p>Very early in the morning one of Zehowah's women +came and stood by his bed and waked him. He could +see that her face was pale in the dawn, her limbs +trembled and her voice was uncertain.</p> + +<p>'Arise, my lord!' she said. 'A messenger has come +from the army with evil news, and stands waiting in the +court.'</p> + +<p>Khaled sprang up, and Zehowah awoke also.</p> + +<p>'What is this message?' he asked hastily.</p> + +<p>But the woman threw herself upon the floor and +covered her face, as though begging forgiveness because +she brought evil tidings.</p> + +<p>'Speak!' said Zehowah. 'What is it?'</p> + +<p>'Our lord the Sultan is dead!' cried the woman, and +she broke out into weeping and crying and would say +nothing more.</p> + +<p>But when Zehowah heard that her father was dead, +she sat down upon the floor and beat her breast and tore +her hair, and wailed and wept, while all the women of +the harem came and gathered round her and joined in +her mourning, so that the whole palace was filled with +the noise of their lamentations.</p> + +<p>Khaled went out into the court and questioned the +messenger, who told him that the Sultan had held a +great feast in the evening in the gardens of Dereyiyah, +having with him the woman Almasta and the other +captive women, and being served by black slaves. But,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> +suddenly, in the night, when most of the soldiers were +already asleep, there had been a great cry, and the +slaves and women had come running from the tent, +crying that the Sultan was dead. This was true, and +the Jewish physician who had gone out with his master +declared that he had died from an access of humours to +the head, brought on by a surfeit of sweetmeats, there +being at the time an evil conjunction of Zoharah and Al +Marech in square aspect to the moon and in the house +of death.</p> + +<p>Khaled therefore mounted his bay mare and rode +quickly out to Dereyiyah, where he found that the news +was true, and the women were already preparing the +Sultan's body for burial. Having ordered the mourning, +and commanded the army to prepare for the return to the +city, Khaled set out with the funeral procession; and +when he reached the walls of Riad he turned to the left +and passed round to the north-east side of the city where +the burial-ground is situated. Here he laid the body +of his father-in-law in the tomb which the latter had +prepared for himself during his lifetime, and afterwards, +dismissing the mourners, he went back into the city +to the palace.</p> + +<p>After the days of mourning were accomplished, the will +of the Sultan was made known, though indeed the people +were well acquainted with it already. By his will Khaled +succeeded to the sovereignty of the kingdom of Nejed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> +and to all the riches and treasures which the Sultan +had accumulated during his lifetime. But the people +received the announcement with acclamations and much +joy, followed by a great feasting, for which innumerable +camels were slain. Khaled also called all the chief +officers and courtiers to a banquet and addressed them +in a few words, according to his manner.</p> + +<p>'Men of Nejed,' he said, 'it has pleased Allah to +remove to the companionship of the faithful our master +the Sultan, my revered father-in-law, upon whom be +peace, and to set me up among you as King in his stead, +being the husband of his only daughter, which you all +know. As for the past, you know me; but if I have +wronged any man let him declare it and I will make +reparation. And if not, let none complain hereafter. +But as for the future I will be a just ruler so long as I +live, and will lead the men of Nejed to war, when there +is war, and will divide the spoil fairly; and in peace I +will not oppress the people with taxes nor change the +just and good laws of the kingdom. And now the feast +is prepared. Sit down cheerfully, and may Allah give +us both the appetite to enjoy and the strength to digest +all the good things which shall be set before us.'</p> + +<p>But Khaled himself ate sparingly, for his heart was +heavy, and when they had feasted and drunk treng juice +and heard music, he retired to the harem, where he +found Zehowah sitting with Almasta, the Georgian<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> +woman, there being no other women present in the +room. He was surprised when he saw Almasta, though +he knew that the captive women had been lodged in +the palace, the distribution of the spoil from the war +having been put off by the mourning for the Sultan.</p> + +<p>When Almasta heard him enter, she looked up quickly +and a bright colour rose in her face, as when the juice +of a pomegranate is poured into milk, and disappeared +again as the false dawn before morning, leaving no trace. +Khaled sat down.</p> + +<p>'Is not this the woman of whom you spoke?' Zehowah +asked. 'I knew her from the rest by her red +hair.'</p> + +<p>'This is the woman. Your father would have taken +her for his wife. But Allah has disposed otherwise.'</p> + +<p>'She is beautiful. She is worthy to be a king's wife,' +said Zehowah.</p> + +<p>'The Sultan?' asked Almasta, for she hardly understood. +Her face turned as white as bone bleached by +the sun, and her fingers trembled, while her eyes were +cast down.</p> + +<p>Zehowah looked at Khaled and laughed.</p> + +<p>'See how she trembles and turns pale before you,' +she said. 'And a little while ago her face was red. +You have found a torch wherewith to kindle this lamp, +and a breath that can extinguish it.'</p> + +<p>'I do not know,' Khaled answered. But he looked<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span> +attentively at Almasta and remained silent for some +time. 'It is now necessary to divide the spoils of the +war,' he said at last, 'and to bestow such of these women +as you do not wish to keep upon the most deserving of +the officers.'</p> + +<p>'My lord will surely take the fairest for himself, +since she loves him,' said Zehowah, again laughing, but +somewhat bitterly.</p> + +<p>'May my tongue be cloven and my eyes be put out, +may my hands wither at the wrists and my feet fall +from my ankles, if I ever take any wife but you,' said +Khaled. 'Yallah! So be it.'</p> + +<p>When Zehowah heard him say this, even while +Almasta's face was unveiled before him, she understood +that he was greatly in earnest.</p> + +<p>'Let me keep her for my handmaid,' she said at +last.</p> + +<p>'Is she mine that you need ask me? But it will be +wiser to give her to Abdul Kerim, the sheikh of the +horsemen. I have promised that the spoil should be +fairly divided, and though few have seen this woman +many have heard of her beauty. And besides, she +would weary you, for she cannot talk in Arabian, nor +does she seem quick to learn. Abdul Kerim has the +first right, since Allah has removed your father, upon +whom be peace.'</p> + +<p>'Your words are my laws,' answered Zehowah<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> +obediently. 'And, indeed, it may be that you are right, +for I believe she can neither dance nor sing, nor play upon +any musical instrument. She would certainly weary +me after a time, as you say. Give her therefore to +Abdul Kerim for his share.'</p> + +<p>They then made Almasta understand that she was to +be given to the sheikh of the horsemen; but when she +had understood she shook her head and smiled, though +at first she said nothing, so that Khaled and Zehowah +wondered whether she had comprehended what they +had told her.</p> + +<p>'Do you understand what we have told you?' asked +Zehowah, who was diverted by her ignorance of the +Arabic language.</p> + +<p>'I understand.'</p> + +<p>'And are you not pleased that you are to be the wife +of Abdul Kerim, who is a rich man and still young?'</p> + +<p>'I was to be the Sultan's wife,' said Almasta, with +difficulty, looking at Khaled. 'You told me so.'</p> + +<p>'The Sultan is dead,' Khaled answered.</p> + +<p>'Who is the Sultan now?' she asked.</p> + +<p>'Khaled is the Sultan,' said Zehowah.</p> + +<p>'You said that I should be the Sultan's wife,' Almasta +repeated.</p> + +<p>'Doubtless, I said so,' Khaled replied. 'But Allah +has ordered it otherwise.'</p> + +<p>Almasta again smiled and shook her head.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI</h3> + + +<p>On the following day Khaled made a division of the +spoils, and gave Almasta to Abdul Kerim, enjoining +upon him to marry her, since he had but two wives and +could do so lawfully. The sheikh of the horsemen was +glad, for he had heard much of Almasta's beauty, and +he loved fair women, being of a fierce temper and not +more than forty years old. So he called his friends to +the marriage feast that same day, and Zehowah sent +Almasta in a litter to his harem, giving her also numerous +rich garments by way of a dower, but which in fact +were due to Abdul Kerim as his share of the booty. So +the men feasted, with music, until the evening, when +the bridegroom retired to the harem and the Kadi came +and read the contract; after which Abdul Kerim sat +down while Almasta was brought before him in various +dresses, one after the other, as is customary.</p> + +<p>When the women were all gone away, Abdul Kerim +began to talk to his wife, but she only laughed and said +the few words she knew, not knowing what he said, +and presently she began to sing to him in a low voice,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span> +in her own language. Her voice was very clear and +quite different from that of the Arabian women whom +Abdul had heard, and the tones vibrated with great +passion and sweetness, so that he was enchanted and +listened, as in a dream, while his head rested against +Almasta's knee. She continued to sing in such a +manner that his soul was transported with delight; +and at last, as the sound soothed him, he fell into a +gentle sleep.</p> + +<p>Almasta, still singing softly, loosened his vest, touching +him so gently that he did not wake. She then drew +out of one of the three tresses of her hair a fine steel +needle, extremely long and sharp, having at one end a +small wooden ball for a handle, and while she sang, she +thrust it very quickly into his breast to its full length, +so that it pierced his heart and he died instantly. But +she continued to sing, lest any of the women should be +listening from a distance. Presently she withdrew the +needle so slowly that not a drop of blood followed it, +and having made it pass thrice through the carpet she +restored it to her hair, after which she fastened the dead +man's vest again, so that nothing was disarranged. She +sang on, after this for some time, and then after a short +silence she sprang up from the couch, uttering loud +screams and lamentations and beating her breast +violently.</p> + +<p>The women of the harem came in quickly, and when<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> +they saw that their master was dead, they sat down +with Almasta and wept with her, for as he lay dead +there was no mark of any violence nor any sign whereby +it could be told that he had not died naturally.</p> + +<p>When Khaled heard that Abdul Kerim was dead, he +was much grieved at heart, for the man had been brave +and had been often at his right hand in battle. But +the news being brought to him at dawn when he awoke, +he immediately sent the Jewish physician of the court +to ascertain if possible the cause of the sudden death. +The physician made careful examination of the body, +and having purified himself returned to Khaled to give +an account.</p> + +<p>'I have executed my lord's orders with scrupulous +exactness,' he said, 'and I find that without doubt the +sheikh of the horsemen died suddenly by an access of +humours to the heart, the sun being at that time in the +Nadir, for he died about midnight, and being moreover +in evil conjunction with the Dragon's Tail in the Heart +of the Lion, and not yet far from the square aspect of +Al Marech which caused the death of his majesty the +late Sultan, upon whom be peace.'</p> + +<p>But Khaled was thoughtful, for he reflected that this +was the second time that a man had died suddenly +when he was about to be Almasta's husband, and he +remembered, how she had attempted to kill the Sultan +of Haïl, and had ultimately brought about his death.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Have you examined the dead man as minutely as +you have observed the stars?' he inquired. 'Is there +no mark of violence upon him, nor of poison, nor of +strangling?'</p> + +<p>'There is no mark. By Allah! I speak truth. My +lord may see for himself, for the man is not yet buried.'</p> + +<p>'Am I a jackal, that I should sniff at dead bodies?' +asked Khaled. 'Go in peace.'</p> + +<p>The physician withdrew, for he saw that Khaled +was displeased, and he was himself as much surprised +as any one by the death of Abdul Kerim, a man lean +and strong, not given to surfeiting and in the prime of +health.</p> + +<p>'Min Allah!' he said as he departed. 'We are in the +hand of the Lord, who knoweth our rising up and our +lying down. It is possible that if I had seen this man +at the moment of death, or a little before, I might have +discovered the nature of his disease, for I could have +talked with him and questioned him.'</p> + +<p>But Khaled went in and talked with Zehowah. She +was greatly astonished when she heard that Almasta's +husband was dead, but she was satisfied with the answer +of the Jewish physician, who enjoyed great reputation and +was believed to be at that time the wisest man in Arabia.</p> + +<p>'Give her back to me, to be one of my women,' said +she. 'It is not written that she should marry a man of +Nejed, unless you will take her yourself.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span></p> + +<p>But Khaled bent his brow angrily and his eyes +glowed like the coals of a camp fire which is almost +extinguished, when the night wind blows suddenly over +the ashes.</p> + +<p>'I have spoken,' he said.</p> + +<p>'And I have heard,' she answered. 'Let there be an +end. But give me this woman to divert me with her +broken speech.'</p> + +<p>'I fear she will do you an injury of which you may +not live,' said Khaled.</p> + +<p>'What injury can she do me?' asked Zehowah in +astonishment, not understanding him.</p> + +<p>'She asked of your father the head of the Sultan of +Haïl, whom she hated. And your father gave it to her.'</p> + +<p>'Peace be upon him!' exclaimed Zehowah piously.</p> + +<p>'Upon him peace. And when he would have +married her, he died suddenly at the feasting. And +now this Abdul Kerim, who was to have been her husband, +is dead also, without sign, in the night, as a man +stung by a serpent in his sleep. These are strange +doings.'</p> + +<p>'If you think she has done evil, let her be put to +death,' said Zehowah. 'But the physician found no +mark upon Abdul Kerim. By the hand of Allah he +was taken.'</p> + +<p>'Doubtless his fate was about his neck. But it is +strange.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span></p> + +<p>Zehowah looked at Khaled in silence, but presently +she smiled and laid her hand upon his.</p> + +<p>'This woman loves you with her whole soul,' she +said. 'You think that she has slain Abdul Kerim by +secret arts, in the hope that she may marry you.'</p> + +<p>'And your father also.'</p> + +<p>Then they were both silent, and Zehowah covered +her face, since she could not prevent tears from falling +when she thought of her father, whom she had loved.</p> + +<p>'If this be so,' she said after a long time, 'let the +woman die immediately.'</p> + +<p>'It is necessary to be just,' Khaled answered. 'I +will put no one to death without witnesses, not even a +captive woman, who is certainly an unbeliever at heart. +Has any one seen her do these deeds, or does any one +know by what means a man may be slain in his sleep, +or at a feast, so that no mark is left upon his body? +At Dereyiyah your father was alone with her in the +inner part of the tent, and she was singing to him that +he might sleep. For I have made inquiry. And when +Abdul Kerim died he was also alone with her. I cannot +understand these things. But you are a woman and subtle. +It may be that you can see what is too dark for me.'</p> + +<p>'It may be. Therefore give her back to me, and I +will lay a trap for her, so that she will betray herself if +she has really done evil. And when we have convicted +her by her own words she shall die.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Are you not afraid, Zehowah?'</p> + +<p>'Can I change my destiny? If my hour is come, I +shall die of a fever, or of a cold, whether she be with +me or not. But if my years are not full, she cannot +hurt me.'</p> + +<p>'This is undoubtedly true,' answered Khaled, who +could find nothing to say. 'But I will first question +the woman myself.'</p> + +<p>So he sent slaves with a litter to bring Almasta from +the house of mourning to the palace, and when she was +come he sent out all the other women and remained +alone with her and Zehowah, making her sit down +before him so that he could see her face. Her cheeks +were pale, for she had not slept, having been occupied +in weeping and lamentation during the whole night, +and her eyes moved restlessly as those of a person distracted +with grief.</p> + +<p>Khaled then drew his sword and laid it across his +feet as he sat and looked fixedly at Almasta.</p> + +<p>'If you do not speak the truth,' he said, 'I will cut +off your head with my own hand. Allah is witness.'</p> + +<p>When Almasta saw the drawn sword, her face grew +whiter than before, and for some moments she seemed +not able to breathe. But suddenly she began to beat +her breast, and broke out into loud wailings, rocking herself +to and fro as she sat on the carpet.</p> + +<p>'My husband is dead!' she cried. 'He was young;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> +he was beautiful! He is dead! Wah! Wah! my +husband is dead! Kill me too!'</p> + +<p>Khaled looked at Zehowah, but she said nothing, +though she watched Almasta attentively. Then Khaled +spoke to the woman again.</p> + +<p>'Make an end of lamenting for the present,' he +said. 'It has pleased Allah to take your husband to +the fellowship of the faithful. Peace be upon him. +Tell us in what manner he died, and what words he +spoke when he felt his end approaching, for he was my +good friend and I wish to know all.'</p> + +<p>Almasta either did not understand or made a pretence +of not understanding, but when she heard Khaled's +words she ceased from wailing and sobbed silently, +beating her breast from time to time.</p> + +<p>'How did he die?' Khaled asked in a stern voice.</p> + +<p>'He was asleep. He died,' replied Almasta in broken +tones.</p> + +<p>'You will get no other answer,' said Zehowah. 'She +cannot speak our tongue.'</p> + +<p>'Is there no woman among them all who can talk +this woman's language?' asked Khaled with impatience, +for he saw how useless it was to question her.</p> + +<p>'There is no one. I have inquired. Leave her +with me, and if there is anything to be known, I will +try to find it out.'</p> + +<p>So Khaled went away and Zehowah endeavoured to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> +soothe Almasta and make her talk in her broken words. +But the woman made as though she would not be comforted, +and went and sat apart upon the stone floor where +there was no carpet, rocking to and fro, and wailing in +a low voice. Zehowah understood that whatever the +truth might be Almasta was determined to express her +sorrow in the customary way, and that it would be +better to leave her alone.</p> + +<p>For seven days she sat thus apart, covering her head +and mourning, and refusing to speak with any one, so +that all the women supposed her to be indeed distracted +with grief at the death of Abdul Kerim. And each +day Khaled inquired of his wife whether she had yet +learned anything, and received the same answer. But +in the meantime he was occupied with his own thoughts, +as well as with the affairs of the kingdom, though the +latter were as nothing in his mind compared with the +workings of his heart when he thought of Zehowah.</p> + +<p>It chanced one evening that Khaled was riding +among the gardens without the city, attended only by a +few horsemen, for he was simple in all his ways and +liked little to have a great throng of attendants about +him. So he rode alone, while the horsemen followed at +a distance.</p> + +<p>'Was ever a man, or an angel, so placed in the world +as I am placed?' he thought. 'How much better would +it have been had I never seen Zehowah, and if I had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> +never slain the Indian prince. For I should still have +been with my fellows, the genii, from whom I am now +cut off, and at least I should have lived until the day +of the resurrection. But now my horse may stumble +and fall, and my neck may be broken, and there is no +hereafter. Or I may die in my sleep, or be killed in +my sleep, and there will be no resurrection for me, nor +any more life, anywhere in earth or heaven. For +Zehowah will never love me. Was ever a man so +placed? And I am ashamed to complain to her any +more, for she is a good wife, obedient and careful of +my wants, and beautiful as the moon at the full, rising +amidst palm trees, besides being very wise and subtle. +How can I complain? Has she not given me herself, +whom I desired, and a great kingdom which, indeed, I did +not desire, but which no man can despise as a gift? Yet +I am burned up within, and my heart is melting as a piece +of frankincense laid upon coals in an empty chamber, +when no man cares for its sweet savour. Surely, I am +the most wretched of mankind. Oh, that the angel who +made garments for me of a ghada bush, and a bay mare +of a locust, would come down and lay his hand upon +Zehowah's breast and make a living heart of the stone +which Allah has set in its place!'</p> + +<p>So he rode slowly on, reasoning as he had often +reasoned before, and reaching the same conclusion in +all his argument, which availed him nothing. But suddenly,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span> +as the sun went down, a new thought entered +his mind and gave him a little hope.</p> + +<p>'The sun is gone down,' he said to himself. 'But +Allah has not destroyed the sun. It will rise in the +east to-morrow when the white cock crows in the first +heaven. Many things have being, which the sight of +man cannot see. It may be that although I see no +signs of love in the heaven of Zehowah's eyes, yet love +is already there and will before long rise as the sun and +illuminate my darkness. For I am not subtle as the +evil genii are, but I must see very clearly before I am +able to distinguish.'</p> + +<p>He rode back into the city, planning how he might +surprise Zehowah and obtain from her unawares some +proof that she indeed loved him. To this end he +entered the palace by a secret gate, covering his garments +with his aba, and his head with the kefiyeh he +wore, in order to disguise himself from the slaves and +the soldiers whom he met on his way to the harem. +He passed on towards Zehowah's apartment by an unlighted +passage not generally used, and hid himself in +a niche of the wall close to the open door, from which +he could see all that happened, and hear what was said.</p> + +<p>Zehowah was seated in her accustomed place and +Almasta was beside her. Khaled could watch their +faces by the light of the hanging lamps, as the two +women talked together.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span></p> + +<p>'You must put aside all mourning now,' Zehowah +was saying. 'For I will find another husband for you.'</p> + +<p>'Another husband?' Almasta smiled and shook her +head.</p> + +<p>'Yes, there are other goodly men in Riad, though +Abdul Kerim was of the goodliest, as all say who knew +him. He was the Sultan's friend, but he was more +soldier than courtier. He deserved a better death.'</p> + +<p>'Abdul Kerim died in peace. He was asleep.' +Almasta smiled still, but more sadly, and her eyes were +cast down.</p> + +<p>'He died in peace,' Zehowah repeated, watching her +narrowly. 'But it is better to die in battle by the +enemy's hand. Such a man, falling in the front of the +fight for the true faith, enters immediately into paradise, +to dwell for ever under the perpetual shade of the tree +Sedrat, and neither blackness nor shame shall cover his +face. There the rivers flow with milk and with clarified +honey, and he shall rest on a couch covered with thick +silk embroidered with gold, and shall possess seventy +beautiful virgins whose eyes are blacker than mine and +their skin whiter than yours, having colour like rubies +and pearls, and their voices like the song of nightingales +in Ajjem, of which travellers tell. These are the +rewards of the true believer as set forth in Al Koran by +our prophet, upon whom peace. A man slain in battle +for the faith enters directly into the possession of all<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> +this, but unbelievers shall be taken by the forelock and +the heels and cast into hell, to drink boiling molten +brass, as a thirsty camel drinks clear water.'</p> + +<p>Almasta understood very little of what Zehowah +said, but she smiled, nevertheless, catching the meaning +of some of the words.</p> + +<p>'The Sultan Khaled loves black eyes,' she said. 'He +will go to paradise.'</p> + +<p>'Doubtless, he will quench his thirst in the incorruptible +milk of heavenly rivers,' Zehowah replied. +'He is the chief of the brave, the light of the faith and +the burning torch of righteousness. Otherwise Allah +would not have chosen him to rule. But I spoke of +Abdul Kerim.'</p> + +<p>'He died in peace,' said Almasta the second time, +and again looking down.</p> + +<p>'I do not know how he died,' Zehowah answered, +looking steadily at the woman's face. 'It was a great +misfortune for you. Do you understand? I am very +sorry for you. You would have been happy with Abdul +Kerim.'</p> + +<p>'I mourn for him,' Almasta said, not raising her +eyes.</p> + +<p>'It is natural and right. Doubtless you loved him +as soon as you saw him.'</p> + +<p>Almasta glanced quickly at Zehowah, as though +suspecting a hidden meaning in the words, and for a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span> +moment each of the women looked into the other's eyes, +but Zehowah saw nothing. For a wise man has truly +said that one may see into the depths of black eyes as +into a deep well, but that blue eyes are like the sea of +Oman in winter, sparkling in the sun as a plain of blue +sand, but underneath more unfathomable than the +desert.</p> + +<p>Almasta was too wise and deceitful to let the silence +last. So when she had looked at Zehowah and understood, +she smiled somewhat sorrowfully and spoke.</p> + +<p>'I could have loved him,' she said. 'I desire no +husband now.'</p> + +<p>'That is not true,' Zehowah answered quickly. 'You +wish to marry Khaled, and that is the reason why you +killed Abdul Kerim.'</p> + +<p>Almasta started as a camel struck by a flight of +locusts.</p> + +<p>'What is this lie?' she cried out with indignation. +'Who has told you this lie?' But her face was as grey +as a stone, and her lips trembled.</p> + +<p>'You probably killed him by magic arts learned in +your own country,' said Zehowah quietly. 'Do not be +afraid. We are alone, and no one can hear us. Tell me +how you killed him. Truly it was very skilful of you, +since the physician, who is the wisest man in Arabia, +could not tell how it was done.'</p> + +<p>But Almasta began to beat her breast and to make<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span> +oaths and asseverations in her own language, which +Zehowah could not understand.</p> + +<p>'If you will tell me how you did it, I will give you +a rich gift,' Zehowah continued.</p> + +<p>But so much the more Almasta cried out, stretching +her hands upwards and speaking incomprehensible +words. So Zehowah waited until she became quiet +again.</p> + +<p>'It may be that Khaled will marry you, if you will +tell me your secret,' Zehowah said, after a time.</p> + +<p>Then Almasta's cheek burned and she bent down her +eyes.</p> + +<p>'Will you tell me how to kill a man and leave no +trace?' asked Zehowah, still pressing her. 'Look at +this pearl. Is it not beautiful? See how well it looks +upon your hair. It is as the leaf of a white rose upon +a river of red gold. And on your neck—you cannot +see it yourself—it is like the full moon hanging upon a +milky cloud. Khaled would give you many pearls like +this, if he married you. Will you not tell me?'</p> + +<p>'Whom do you wish to kill?' Almasta asked, very +suddenly. But Zehowah was unmoved.</p> + +<p>'It may be that I have a private enemy,' she said. +'Perhaps there is one who disturbs me, against whom I +plot in the night, but can find no way of ridding myself +of him. A woman might give much to destroy such a +one.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Khaled will kill your enemies. He loves you. He +will kill all whom you hate.'</p> + +<p>'You make progress. You speak our language +better,' said Zehowah, laughing a little. 'You will +soon be able to tell the Sultan that you love him, as +well as I could myself.'</p> + +<p>'But you do not love him,' Almasta answered boldly.</p> + +<p>Zehowah bent her brows so that they met between +her eyes as the grip of a bow. Then Khaled's heart +leaped in his breast, for he saw that she was angry with +the woman, and he supposed it was because she secretly +loved him. But he held his breath lest even his breathing +should betray him.</p> + +<p>'The portion of fools is fire,' said Zehowah, not +deigning to give any other answer. For she was a +king's daughter and Almasta a bought slave, though +Khaled had taken her in war.</p> + +<p>'Be merciful!' exclaimed Almasta, in humble tones. +'I am your handmaid, and I speak Arabic badly.'</p> + +<p>'You speak with exceeding clearness when it pleases +you.'</p> + +<p>'Indeed I cannot talk in your language, for it is not +long since I came into Arabia.'</p> + +<p>'We will have you taught, for we will give you a +husband who will teach you with sticks. There is a +certain hunchback, having one eye and marked with the +smallpox, whose fists are as the feet of an old camel.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> +He will be a good husband for you and will teach you +the Arabic language, and your skin shall be dissolved +but your mind will be enlightened thereby.'</p> + +<p>'Be merciful! I desire no husband.'</p> + +<p>'It is good that a woman should marry, even though +the bridegroom be a hunchback. But if you will tell me +your secret I will give you a better husband and forgive +you.'</p> + +<p>'There is no secret! I have killed no one!' cried +Almasta. 'Who has told you the lie?'</p> + +<p>'And moreover,' continued Zehowah, not regarding +her protestations, 'there are other ways of learning +secrets, besides by kindness; such, for instance, as +sticks, and hot irons, and hunger and thirst in a prison +where there are reptiles and poisonous spiders, besides +many other things with which I have no doubt the +slaves of the palace are acquainted. It is better that +you should tell your secret and be happy.'</p> + +<p>'There is no secret,' Almasta repeated, and she would +say nothing else, for she did not trust Zehowah and +feared a cruel death if she told the truth.</p> + +<p>But Zehowah wearied of the contest at last, being by +no means sure that the woman had really done any +evil, and having no intention of using any violent means +such as she had suggested. For she was as just as she +was wise and would have no one suffer wrongly. +Khaled, indeed, cared little for the pain of others, having<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span> +seen much blood shed in war, and would have +caused Almasta to be tortured if Zehowah had desired +it. But she did not, preferring to wait and see whether +she could not entrap the slave into a confession.</p> + +<p>Khaled now came out of his hiding-place into the +room and advanced towards Zehowah, who remained +sitting upon the carpet, while Almasta rose and made +a respectful salutation. But neither of the women +knew that he had been hidden in the niche. Zehowah +did not seem surprised, but Almasta's face was white +and her eyes were cast down, though indeed Khaled +wished that it had been otherwise. He was encouraged, +however, by what he had seen, for Zehowah had certainly +been angry with Almasta on his account, and he dismissed +the latter that he might be alone with his wife.</p> + +<p>'You are wise, Zehowah,' he said, 'and gifted with +much insight, but you will learn nothing from this +woman, though you talk with her a whole year. For +she suspects you and is guarded in her speech and +manner. I was standing by the doorway a long time. +You did not see me, but I heard all that you said.'</p> + +<p>'Why did you hide yourself?' Zehowah asked, looking +at him curiously.</p> + +<p>'In order to listen,' he answered. 'And I heard +something and saw something which pleased me. For +when she said that you did not love me, you were +angry.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Did that please you? You are more easily pleased +than I had thought. Shall I bear such things from a +slave? How is it her business whether I love or not?'</p> + +<p>'But you were angry,' Khaled repeated, vainly hoping +that she would say more, yet not wishing to press her +too far, lest she should say again that she did not love +him.</p> + +<p>She, however, said nothing in reply, but busied herself +in taking his kefiyeh from his head and his sword +from his side that he might be at ease. He rested +against the cushions and drank of the cool drink she +offered him.</p> + +<p>'This woman, Almasta, is exceedingly beautiful,' he +said at last. 'It would indeed be a pity that a slave of +such value should go into the possession of another so +that we could see her no more. It is best that you +should keep her with you.'</p> + +<p>Zehowah laughed a little, as she sat down beside +him and began to play with her beads.</p> + +<p>'This is what I have always said,' she answered. +'I will keep her with me.'</p> + +<p>'It is better so,' said Khaled.</p> + +<p>Then he remained silent in deep thought, having +devised a new plan for gaining what he most desired. +It seemed to him possible that Zehowah might be +moved by jealousy, if by nothing else; for although he +had sworn to her, and angrily, that he would never take<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span> +Almasta for his wife, and though nothing could really +have prevailed upon him to make him do so, yet it +would be easy for him to talk to the woman and speak +to her of her beauty, and appear to take delight in her +singing, which was more melodious than that of a +Persian nightingale. Since she would be now permanently +established in his harem, nothing would be easier +than for him to spend many hours in the woman's +society. Being a simple-minded man the plan seemed +to him subtle, and he determined to put it into execution +without delay. He knew also that Almasta had +loved him since the first day when she had been +brought before him in the palace at Haïl, and this +would make it still more easy to rouse Zehowah's +jealousy.</p> + +<p>Though she had herself advised him to marry +Almasta, he did not believe that she was greatly in +earnest, and he felt assured that if the possibility were +presented before her, in such a way as to appear +imminent, she would be deceived by the appearance.</p> + +<p>'It is better that she should remain here,' he said +after a long time. 'For we cannot put her to death +without evidence of her guilt, and if we are obstinate in +wishing to give her a husband, we do not know how +many husbands she may destroy before she is satisfied. +She is beautiful, and will be an ornament in your +kahwah. Indeed I do not know why I sent her away<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span> +just now, when I came in. Let us call her back, that +she may sing to us some of her own songs.'</p> + +<p>Zehowah clapped her hands and Almasta immediately +returned, for she had indeed been waiting outside +the door, endeavouring to hear what was said, since she +suspected that Khaled would speak of her and ask +questions. She understood well enough, and often +much better than she was willing to show, though she +could as yet speak but few words of the Arabic language.</p> + +<p>'Sit at my feet,' said Khaled, 'and sing to me the +songs of your own people.'</p> + +<p>Almasta took a musical instrument from the wall +and sat down to sing. Her voice, indeed, was of enchanting +sweetness, but as for the words of her songs, +the seven wise men themselves could not have understood +a syllable of them, seeing that they were neither +Arabic nor Persian, nor even Greek. Nevertheless, +Khaled made a pretence of being much pleased, resting +his head against the cushions and closing his eyes as +though the sound soothed him. As for Zehowah, she +watched the woman with great curiosity, wondering +whether it were possible that a creature so fair as +Almasta could have done the evil deeds of which she +was suspected, and planning how she might surprise +her into a confession of guilt.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII</h3> + + +<p>Not many days passed after this, before the women of +the harem began to whisper among themselves in the +passages and outer chambers.</p> + +<p>'See,' they said, 'how our master favours this +foreign woman, who is in all probability a devil from +the Persian mountains. Every day he will have her +to sing to him, and to bring him drink, and to sit at +his feet. And he has given her several bracelets of +gold and a large ruby. Surely it will be better for +us to flatter her and show her reverence, for if not she +will before long give us sticks to eat, and we shall +mourn our folly.'</p> + +<p>So they began to exhibit great respect for Almasta, +giving her always the best seat amongst them and +setting aside for her the best portions of the mutton, +and the whitest of the rice, and the largest of the +sweetmeats and the mellowest of the old sugar dates, +so that Almasta fared sumptuously. But though she +understood the reason why the women treated her so +much more kindly than before, she was careful always<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span> +to appear thankful and to speak softly to them, for +she feared Zehowah, to whom they might speak of her, +and who was very powerful with the Sultan. She +was indeed secretly transported with joy, for she loved +Khaled and she began to think that before long he +would marry her. This was her only motive, also, +for she was not otherwise ambitious, and though she +afterwards did many evil deeds, she did them all out +of love for him.</p> + +<p>Though Khaled was by no means soft-hearted, he +could not but pity her sometimes, seeing how she was +deceived by his kindness, while he was only making a +pretence of preferring her in order to gain Zehowah's +love. Often he sat long with closed eyes while she +sang to him or played softly upon the barbat, and he +tried to fancy that the voice and the presence were +Zehowah's. But her strange language disturbed him, +for there were sounds in it like the hissing of serpents +and like choking, which caused him to start suddenly +just when her voice was sweetest. For the Georgian +tongue is barbarous and not like any human speech +under the sun, resembling by turns the inarticulate +warbling of birds, and the croaking of ravens, and the +noises made by an angry cat. Nevertheless, Khaled +always made a pretence of being pleased, though he +enjoined upon Almasta to learn to sing in Arabic.</p> + +<p>'For Arabic,' he said to her, 'is the language of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span> +paradise, and is spoken by all beings among the +blessed, from Adam, our father, who waits for the +resurrection in the first heaven, to the birds that fly +among the branches of the tree Sedrat, near the throne +of Allah, singing perpetually the verses of Al Koran. +The black-eyed virgins reserved for the faithful, also +speak only in Arabic.'</p> + +<p>'Shall I be of the Hur al Oyun of whom you +speak?' Almasta inquired.</p> + +<p>'How is it possible that you should be of the black-eyed +ones, when your eyes are blue?' Khaled asked, +laughing. 'And besides, are you not an unbeliever?'</p> + +<p>'I believe what you believe, and am learning your +language. There is no Allah beside Allah.'</p> + +<p>'And Mohammed is Allah's prophet.'</p> + +<p>'And Mohammed is Allah's prophet,' Almasta repeated +devoutly.</p> + +<p>'Good. And the six articles of belief are also +necessary.'</p> + +<p>'Teach me,' said Almasta, laying the barbat upon +the carpet and folding her hands.</p> + +<p>'You must believe first in Allah, and secondly in +all the angels. Thirdly you must believe in Al +Koran, fourthly in the prophets of Allah, fifthly in +the resurrection of the dead and the last judgment, +and lastly that your destiny is about your neck so +that you cannot escape it.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span></p> + +<p>'I believe in everything,' said Almasta, who understood +nothing of these sacred matters. 'Shall I now +be one of the Hur al Oyun?'</p> + +<p>'But you have blue eyes.'</p> + +<p>'When I know that I am dying, I will paint them +black,' said Almasta, laughing sweetly.</p> + +<p>'The angels Monkar and Nakir will discover your +deception,' said Khaled. 'When you are dead and +buried, these two angels, who are black, will enter +your tomb. They are of extremely terrible appearance. +Then they will make you sit upright in the grave and +will examine you first as to your belief and then as +to your deeds. You will then not be able to tell lies. +If you truly believe and have done good, your soul +will then be breathed out of your lips and will float +in a state of rest over your grave until the last judgment. +But if not, the black angels will beat your +head with iron maces, and tear your soul from your +body with a torment greater than that caused by +tearing the flesh from the bones.'</p> + +<p>'I believe in everything,' Almasta said again, supposing +that her assent would please him.</p> + +<p>'You find it an easy matter to believe what I tell +you,' he said, for he could see that she would have +received any other faith as readily. 'But it is not +easy for a woman to enter paradise, and since it is +your destiny to have blue eyes, they will not become<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span> +black. The Hur al Oyun, however, are not mortal +women and no mortal woman can ever be one of +them, since they are especially prepared for the faithful. +But a man's wives may enter paradise with him, +in a glorified beauty which may not be inferior to that +of the black-eyed ones. If, for instance, Abdul Kerim +had lived and been your husband, you might, by faith +and good works, have entered heaven with him as one +of his wives.'</p> + +<p>Almasta looked long at Khaled, trying to see +whether he still suspected her, and indeed he found +it very hard to do so, for her look was clear and +innocent as that of a young dove that is fed by a +familiar hand.</p> + +<p>'I would like to enter paradise with you,' said +Almasta, with an appearance of timidity. 'Is it not +possible?'</p> + +<p>'It may be possible. But I doubt it,' Khaled +answered, with gravity.</p> + +<p>In those days, while Khaled thus spent many +hours with Almasta, Zehowah often remained for a +long time in another part of the harem, either surrounded +by her women, or sitting alone upon the +balcony over the court, absorbed in watching the +people who came and went. The slaves were surprised +to see that Khaled seemed to prefer the society +of the Georgian to that of his wife, but they dared say<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span> +nothing to Zehowah and contented themselves with +watching her face and endeavouring to find out +whether she were displeased at what was happening, +or really indifferent as she appeared to be.</p> + +<p>Almasta herself was distrustful, supposing that +Khaled and Zehowah were in league together to entrap +her into a self-accusation, and though her heart was +transported with happiness while she was with Khaled, +yet she did not forget to be cautious whenever any +reference was made to Abdul Kerim's death. She +also took the long needle out of her hair and hid it +carefully in a corner, in a crevice between the pavement +and the wall, lest it should at any time fall from +its place and bring suspicion upon her.</p> + +<p>Khaled watched Zehowah as narrowly as the women +did, to see whether any signs of jealousy showed themselves +in her face, and sometimes they talked together +of Almasta.</p> + +<p>'It is strange,' said Khaled, 'that Allah, being all +powerful, should have provided matter for dissension +on earth by creating one woman more beautiful than +another, the one with blue eyes, the other with black, +the one with red hair and the other with hair needing +henna to brighten it. Are not all women the children +of one mother?'</p> + +<p>'And are not all men her sons also?' asked +Zehowah. 'It is strange that Allah, being all powerful,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span> +should have provided matter for sorrow by creating +one man with a spirit easily satisfied, and the +other with a soul tormented by discontent.'</p> + +<p>Khaled looked fixedly at his wife, and bent his +brows. But in secret he was glad, for he supposed +that she was beginning to be jealous. However, he +made a pretence of being displeased.</p> + +<p>'Is man a rock that he should never change?' he +asked. 'Or has he but one eye with which to see +but one kind of beauty? Have I not two hands, two +feet, two ears, two nostrils and two eyes?'</p> + +<p>'That is true,' Zehowah answered. 'But a man +has only one heart with which to love, one voice with +which to speak kind words, and one mouth with which +to kiss the woman he has chosen. And if a man had +two souls, they would rend him so that he would be mad.'</p> + +<p>At this Khaled laughed a little and would gladly +have shown Zehowah that she was right. But he feared +to be treated with indifference, if he yielded to her +argument so soon, and he held his peace.</p> + +<p>'Nevertheless,' Zehowah continued, after a time, +'you are right and so am I. You said, indeed, not +many days ago that your two hands should wither at +the wrists if you took another wife, yet I advised you +to do so; and now it is clear from what you say that +you wish to marry Almasta. I am your handmaiden. +Take her, therefore, and be contented, for she loves you.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span></p> + +<p>But now Khaled was much disturbed as to what +he should answer, for he had hoped that Zehowah +would break out into jealous anger. He could not +accept her advice, because of his oath and still more +because of his love for her; yet he could not send +away Almasta, since by so doing he would be giving +over his last hope of obtaining Zehowah's love by +rousing her jealousy.</p> + +<p>'Take her,' Zehowah repeated. 'The palace is +wide and spacious. There is room for us both, and +for two others also, if need be, according to divine law. +Take her, and let there be contentment. Have you +not said that she is more beautiful than I?'</p> + +<p>'No,' answered Khaled, 'I have not said so.'</p> + +<p>'You have thought it, which is much the same, for +you said that her hair was red but that mine needed +henna to brighten it. Marry her therefore, this very +day. Send for the Kadi, and order a feast, and let it +be done quickly.'</p> + +<p>'Is it nothing to you, whether I take her or not?' +Khaled asked, seeking desperately for something to +say.</p> + +<p>'Is it for me to set myself up against the holy +law? Or did any one exact from you a promise that +you would not take another wife? And if you rashly +promised anything of your own free will, the promise +is not binding seeing that there is no authority for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span> +it in Al Koran, and that no one desires you to keep +it—neither I, nor Almasta.'</p> + +<p>Zehowah laughed at her own speech, and Khaled was +too much disturbed to notice that the laugh was rather +of scorn than of mirth.</p> + +<p>'How shall I take a woman who is perhaps a +murderess?' he asked. 'Shall I take her who was +perhaps the cause of your revered father's death? +May Allah give him peace! Surely, the very thought +is terrible to me, and I will not do it.'</p> + +<p>'Will you convict her without witnesses? And +where is your witness? Did not the physician +explain the reason of the death, and did he suspect +that there was anything unnatural about it? But +if you still think that she destroyed my father and +Abdul Kerim—peace on them both—why do you +make her sit all day long at your feet and sing to +you in her barbarous language, which resembles the +barking of jackals? And why do you command +her to bring you drink and fan you when it is +hot, and you sleep in the afternoon? This shows +a forgiving and trustful disposition.'</p> + +<p>'This is an unanswerable argument,' thought Khaled, +being very much perplexed. 'Can I answer that I do +all this in order to see whether Zehowah is jealous? +She would certainly laugh to herself and say in her +heart that she has married a fool.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span></p> + +<p>So he said nothing, but bent his brows again, and +endeavoured to seem angry. But Zehowah took no +notice of his face and continued to urge him to marry +Almasta.</p> + +<p>'Have you ever seen such a woman?' she asked. +'Have you ever seen such eyes? Are they not like +twin heavens of a deep blue, each having a shining sun +in the midst? Is not her hair like seventy thousand +pieces of gold poured out upon the carpet from a +height? Her nose is a straight piece of pure ivory. +Her lips are redder than pomegranates when they are +ripe, and her cheeks are as smooth as silk. Moreover +she is as white as milk, freshly taken from the camel, +whereas my hands are of the colour of blanket-bread +before it is baked.'</p> + +<p>'Your hands are much smaller than hers,' said +Khaled, who could not suffer Zehowah to discredit her +own beauty.</p> + +<p>'I do not know,' she answered, looking at her +fingers. 'But they are less white. And Almasta +is far more beautiful than I. You yourself said so.'</p> + +<p>'I never said so,' Khaled replied, more and more +perplexed. 'There are two kinds of beauty. That is +what I said. Allah has willed it. Almasta is a slave, +and her hands are large. It is a pity, for she is like a +mare that has many good points, but whose hoofs are +overgrown through too much idleness in the stable. I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span> +say that there are two kinds of beauty. Yours is that +of the free woman of a pure and beautiful race; hers +is that of the slave accidentally born beautiful.'</p> + +<p>Zehowah gathered up her three long black tresses +and laid them across her knees as she sat. Then she +shook off her golden bracelets, one after the other, to the +number of a score and heaped them upon the hair.</p> + +<p>'Which do you like best?' she asked. 'The black +or the gold? The day or the night? Here you see +them together and can judge fairly between them.'</p> + +<p>Khaled sought for a crafty answer and made a pretence +of pondering the matter deeply.</p> + +<p>'After the night,' he said at last, 'the day is very +bright and glorious. But when we have looked on it +long, only the night can bring rest and peace.'</p> + +<p>He was pleased with himself when he had made +this answer, supposing that Zehowah would find +nothing to say. But he had only laid a new trap +for himself.</p> + +<p>'That is quite true,' she answered, laughing. 'That +is also the reason why Allah made the day and the +night to follow each other in succession, lest men +should grow weary of eternal light or eternal darkness. +For the same reason also, since you have a +wife whose hair is black, I counsel you to take a +red-haired one. In this way you will obtain that +variety which the taste of man craves.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span></p> + +<p>'If I follow your advice, you will regret it,' said +Khaled.</p> + +<p>'You think I shall be jealous, but you are mistaken. +I am what I am. Can another woman make me more +or less beautiful? Moreover, I shall always be first in +the palace, though you take three other wives. The +others will rise up when you come in, but I shall remain +sitting. I shall always be the first wife.'</p> + +<p>'Undoubtedly, that is your right,' Khaled replied. +'Do you suppose that I wish to put any woman in +your place?'</p> + +<p>Then Zehowah laughed, and laid her hand upon +Khaled's arm.</p> + +<p>'How foolish men are!' she exclaimed. 'Do you +think you can deceive me? Do you imagine, because +I have answered you and talked with you to-day, and +listened to your arguments, that I do not understand +your heart? Oh, Khaled, this is true which you often +say of yourself, that your wit is in your arm. If I +were a warrior and stood before you with a sword in +my hand, you could argue better, for you would cut off +my head, and the argument would end suddenly. But +Allah has not made you subtle, and words in your +mouth are of no more avail than a sword would be +in mine, for you entangle yourself in your own +language, as I should wound myself if I tried to +handle a weapon.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span></p> + +<p>At this Khaled was much disconcerted, and he +stroked his beard thoughtfully, looking away so as not +to meet her eyes.</p> + +<p>'I do not know what you mean,' he said, at last. +'You certainly imagine something which has no existence.'</p> + +<p>'I imagine nothing, for I have seen the truth, ever +since the first day when you desired to be alone with +Almasta. You are only foolishly trying to make me +jealous of her, in order that I may love you better.'</p> + +<p>When Khaled saw that she understood him, he was +without any defence, for he had built a wall of sand +for himself, like a child playing in the desert, which +the first breath of wind causes to crumble, and the +second blast leaves no trace of it behind.</p> + +<p>'And am I foolish, because I have done this thing?' +he cried, not attempting to deny the truth. 'Am I a +fool because I desire your love? But it is folly to +speak of it, for you will reproach me and say that I +am discontented, and will offer me another woman for +my wife. Go. Leave me alone. If you do not love +me, the sight of you is as vinegar poured into a fresh +wound, and as salt rubbed into eyes that are sore with +the sand. Go. Why do you stay? Do you not believe +me? Do you wish me to kill you that I may +have peace from you? It is a pity that you did not +marry one of the hundred suitors who came before me,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span> +for you certainly loved one of them, since you cannot +love me. You doubtless loved the Indian prince. +Would you have him back? I can give you his +bones, for I slew him with my own hands and buried +him in the Red Desert, where his soul is sitting upon +a heap of sand, waiting for the day of resurrection.'</p> + +<p>Then Zehowah was greatly astonished, for neither +she nor any one else had ever known what had been +the end of that suitor, and after waiting a long time, +his people who had been with him had departed +sorrowing to their own country, and she had heard +no more of them.</p> + +<p>'What is this?' she asked in amazement. 'Why +did you kill him? And how could you have done +this thing unseen, since he was guarded by many +attendants?'</p> + +<p>'I took him out of the palace in the night, when +all were asleep, and then I killed him,' said Khaled, +and Zehowah could get no other answer, for he would +not confess that he had been one of the genii, lest she +should not believe the truth, or else, believing, should +be afraid of him in the future.</p> + +<p>'I will give you his bones,' he said, 'if you desire +them, for I know where they are, and you certainly +loved him, and are still mourning for him. If he +could be alive, I would kill him again.'</p> + +<p>'I never loved him,' Zehowah answered, at last.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span> +'How was it possible? But I would perhaps have +married him, hoping to convert all his people to the +true faith.'</p> + +<p>'As you have married me in the hope, or the +assurance, of giving your people a just king.'</p> + +<p>'You are angry, Khaled. And, indeed, I could be +angry, too, but with myself and not with you, as you +are with me, though it be for the same reason. For I +begin to see and understand why you are discontented, +and indeed I will do what I can to satisfy +you.'</p> + +<p>'You must love me, as I love you, if you would +save me from destruction,' said Khaled.</p> + +<p>Though Zehowah could not comprehend the meaning +of the words, she saw by his face that he was +terribly moved, and she herself began to be more +sorry for him.</p> + +<p>'Indeed, Khaled,' she said, 'I will try to love you +from this hour. But it is a hard thing, because you +cannot explain it, and it is not easy to learn what +cannot be explained. Do you think that all women +love their husbands in this way you mean? Am I +unlike all the rest?'</p> + +<p>Khaled took her hand and held it, and looked into +her eyes.</p> + +<p>'Love is the first mystery of the world,' he said. +'Death is the second. Between the two there is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span> +nothing but a weariness darkened with shadows and +thick with mists. What is gold? A cinder that +glows in the darkness for a moment and falls away to +a cold ash in our hand when we have taken it. But +love is a treasure which remains. What is renown? +A cry uttered in the bazar by men whose minds are +subject to change as their bodies are to death. But +the voice of love is heard in paradise, singing beside +the fountains Tasnim and Salsahil. What is power? +A net with which to draw wealth and fame from the +waters of life? To what end? We must die. Or +is power a sword to kill our enemies? If their time +is come they will die without the sword. Or is it a +stick to purify the hides of fools? The fool will die +also, like his master, and both will be forgotten. But +they who love shall enter the seventh heaven together, +according to the promise of Allah. Death is stronger +than man or woman, but love is stronger than death, +and all else is but a vision seen in the desert, having +no reality.'</p> + +<p>'I will try to understand it, for I see that you are +very unhappy,' said Zehowah.</p> + +<p>She was silent after this, for Khaled's words were +earnest and sank into her soul. Yet the more she +tried to imagine what the passion in him could be like, +the less she was able to understand it, for some of +Khaled's actions had been foolish, but she supposed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span> +that there must have been some wisdom in them, +having its foundation in the nature of love.</p> + +<p>'What he says is true,' she thought. 'I married +him in order to give my people a just and brave king, +and he is both brave and just. And I am certainly a +good wife, for I should be dissolved in shame if +another man were to see my face, and moreover I am +careful of his wants, and I take his kefiyeh from his +head with my own hands, and smooth the cushions +for him and bring him food and drink when he desires +it. Or have I withheld from him any of the treasures +of the palace, or stood in the way of his taking another +wife? Until to-day, I thought indeed that this talk +of love meant but little, and that he spoke of it +because he desired an excuse for marrying Almasta +who loves him. But when I said at a venture that +he wished to make me jealous, he confessed the truth. +Now all the tales of love told by the old women are +of young persons who have seen each other from a +distance, but are hindered from marrying. And we +are already married. Surely, it is very hard to understand.'</p> + +<p>After this Khaled never called Almasta to sit at +his feet and sing to him, as he had done before, and +Zehowah was constantly with him in her stead. At +first Almasta supposed that Khaled only made a pretence +of disregarding her, out of respect for his wife,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span> +but she soon perceived that he was indifferent and no +longer noticed her. She then grew fierce and jealous, +and her voice was not heard singing in the harem; +but she went and took her needle again from the +crevice in the pavement and hid it in her hair, and +though Zehowah often called her, when Khaled was +not in the house, she made as though she understood +even less of the Arabic language than before and sat +stupidly on the carpet, gazing at her hands. Zehowah +wearied of her silence, for she understood the reason +of it well enough.</p> + +<p>'I am tired of this woman,' she said to Khaled. +'Do you think I am jealous of her now?'</p> + +<p>Khaled smiled a little, but said nothing, only +shaking his head.</p> + +<p>'I am tired of her,' Zehowah repeated. 'She sits +before me like a sack of barley in a grainseller's shop, +neither moving nor speaking.'</p> + +<p>'She is yours,' Khaled answered. 'Send her away. +Or we will give her in marriage to one of the sheikhs +who will take her away to the desert. In this way +she will not be able even to visit you except when her +husband comes into the city.'</p> + +<p>But they decided nothing at that time. Some +days later Khaled was sitting alone upon a balcony, +Zehowah having gone to the bath, when Almasta came +suddenly before him and threw herself at his feet,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span> +beating her forehead and tearing her hair, though not +indeed in a way to injure it.</p> + +<p>'What have I done?' she cried. 'Why is my +lord displeased?'</p> + +<p>Khaled looked at her in surprise, but answered +nothing at first.</p> + +<p>'Why are my lord's eyes like frozen pools by the +Kura, and why is his forehead like Kasbek in a mist?'</p> + +<p>Khaled laughed a little at her words.</p> + +<p>'Kasbek is far from Riad,' he answered, 'and the +waters of the Kura do not irrigate the Red Desert. I +am not displeased. On the contrary, I will give you +a husband and a sufficient dowry. Go in peace.'</p> + +<p>But Almasta remained where she was, weeping and +beating her forehead.</p> + +<p>'Let me stay!' she cried. 'Let me stay, for I love +you. I will eat the dust under your feet. Only let +me stay.'</p> + +<p>'I think not,' Khaled answered. 'You weary +Zehowah with your silence and your sullenness.'</p> + +<p>'Let me stay!' she repeated, over and over again.</p> + +<p>She was not making any pretence of grief, for the +tears ran down abundantly and stained the red leather +of Khaled's shoes. Though he was hard-hearted he +was not altogether cruel, for a man who loves one +woman greatly is somewhat softened towards all such +as do not stand immediately in his way.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span></p> + +<p>'It is true,' he thought, 'that I have given this +woman some occasion of hope, for I have treated her +kindly during many days, and she has probably supposed +that I would marry her. For she is less keen-sighted +than Zehowah, and moreover she loves me.'</p> + +<p>'Do not drive me out!' cried Almasta. 'For I +shall die if I cannot see your face. What have I +done?'</p> + +<p>'You have indeed done nothing worthy of death, +for I cannot prove that you killed Abdul Kerim. I +will therefore give you a good husband and you shall +be happy.'</p> + +<p>But Almasta would not go away, and embracing +his knees she looked up into his face, imploring him +to let her remain. Khaled could not but see that she +was beautiful, for the mid-day light fell upon her white +face and her red lips, and made shadows in her hair +of the colour of mellow dates, and reflections as bright +as gold when the burnisher is still in the goldsmith's +hand. Though he cared nothing for Almasta and +little for her sorrow, his eye was pleased and he +smiled.</p> + +<p>Then he looked up and saw Zehowah standing +before him, just as she had come from the bath, +wrapped in loose garments of silk and gold. He +gazed at her attentively for there was a distant gleam +of light in her eyes and her cheeks were warm, though<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span> +she stood in the shadow, so that he thought she had +never been more beautiful, and he did not care to look +at Almasta's face again.</p> + +<p>'Why is Almasta lamenting in this way?' +Zehowah asked.</p> + +<p>'She desires to stay in the palace,' Khaled +answered; 'but I have told her that she shall be +married, and yet she wishes to stay.'</p> + +<p>'Let her be married quickly, then. Is she a free +woman, that she should resist, or is she rich that she +should refuse alms? Let her be married.'</p> + +<p>'There is a certain young man, cousin to Abdul +Kerim, a Bedouin of pure descent. Let him take her, +if he will, and let the marriage be celebrated to-morrow.'</p> + +<p>But Almasta shook her head, and her tears never +ceased from flowing.</p> + +<p>'You will marry him,' said Khaled. 'And if any +harm comes to him, I will cause you to be put to +death before the second call to prayer on the following +morning.'</p> + +<p>When Almasta heard this, her tears were suddenly +dried and her lips closed tightly. She rose from the +floor and retired to a distance within the room.</p> + +<p>On that day Khaled sent for the young man of +whom he had spoken, whose name was Abdullah ibn +Mohammed el Herir, and offered him Almasta for a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span> +wife. And he accepted her joyfully, for he had heard +of her wonderful beauty, and was moreover much +gratified by being given a woman whom the former +Sultan would probably have married if he had lived. +Khaled also gave him a grey mare as a wedding gift, +and a handsome garment.</p> + +<p>The marriage was therefore celebrated in the +customary manner, and no harm came to Abdullah. +But as the autumn had now set in, he soon afterwards +left the city, taking Almasta with him, to live in tents, +after the manner of the Bedouins.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII</h3> + + +<p>Abdullah ibn Mohammed, though a young man, was +now the sheikh of a considerable tribe which had +frequently done good service to the late Sultan, +Zehowah's father, and which had also borne a prominent +part in the recent war. Abdul Kerim, whom +Almasta had murdered, had been the sheikh during +his lifetime, and if the claims of birth had been justly +considered, his son, though a mere boy, should have +succeeded him. But Abdullah had found it easy to +usurp the chief place, and in the council which was +held after Abdul Kerim's death he was chosen by +acclamation. It chanced, too, that he was not married +at the time when he took Almasta, for of two +wives the one had died of a fever during the summer, +and he had divorced the other on account of her +unbearable temper, having been deceived in respect of +this by her parents, who had assured him that she was +as gentle as a dove and as submissive as a lamb. But +she had turned out to be as quarrelsome as a wasp +and as unmanageable as an untrained hawk, so he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span> +divorced her, and the more readily because she was +not beautiful and her dower had been insignificant. +Almasta therefore found that she was her husband's +only wife.</p> + +<p>She would certainly have killed him, as she had +killed Abdul Kerim, and, indeed, the late Sultan, in +the hope of being taken back into the palace, but she +was prevented by the fear of death, for she had seen +that Khaled's threat was not empty and would be +executed if harm came to Abdullah after his marriage. +She accordingly set herself to please him, and first of +all she learned to speak the Arabic language, in order +that she might sing to him in his own tongue and tell +him tales of distant countries, which she had learned +in her own home.</p> + +<p>Abdullah passed the months of autumn and the +early winter in the desert, moving about from place to +place, as is the custom of the Bedouins, it being his +intention to reach a northerly point of Ajman in the +spring, in order to fall upon the Persian pilgrims and +extort a ransom before they entered the territory of +Nejed. For it would not be lawful to attack them +after that, since there was a treaty with the Emir of +Basrah, allowing the pilgrims a safe and free passage +towards Mecca, for which the Emir paid yearly a sum +of money to the Sultan of Nejed.</p> + +<p>But Almasta knew nothing of this, for she was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span> +wholly ignorant of the desert; and moreover Abdullah +was a cautious man, who held that whatsoever is to +be kept secret must not be uttered aloud, though there +be no one within three days' journey to hear it.</p> + +<p>Abdullah treated her with great consideration, not +obliging her to weary herself overmuch with cooking +and other work of the tents. For he rejoiced in her +beauty and in the sweetness of her voice, and his chief +delight was to sit in the door of the tent at night, +chewing frankincense, while Almasta sat within, close +behind him, and told him tales of her own country, or +of the life in the palace of Riad. The latter indeed +was as strange to him as the former, and much more +interesting.</p> + +<p>Now one evening they were alone together in this +manner, and it was not yet very cold. But the stars +shone brightly as though there would be a frost before +morning, and the other tents were all closed and no +one was near the coals which remained from the fire +after baking the blanket-bread. One might hear the +chewing of the camels in the dark and the tramping +of a mare that moved slowly about, her hind feet +being chained together.</p> + +<p>'Tell me more of the palace at Riad,' said Abdullah. +'For your Kura, and your snow-covered Kasbek, and +your Tiflis with its warm springs and gardens, I +shall never see. But I have seen the courts of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span> +palace from my youth, and the Sultan's kahwah, and +the latticed windows of the harem, from which you +say that you saw me and loved me in the last days of +summer.'</p> + +<p>Almasta had said this to please him, though it +was not true. For she knew that men easily believe +what flatters them, as women believe that what they +desire must come to pass.</p> + +<p>'The palace is a wonderful palace,' said Almasta, +'and I will tell you of the treasures which are in it.'</p> + +<p>'That is what I wish to hear,' answered Abdullah, +putting a piece of frankincense into his mouth and +beginning to chew it. 'Tell me of the treasures, for +it is said that they are great and of extraordinary +value.'</p> + +<p>'The value of them cannot be calculated, O Abdullah, +for if you had seventy thousand hands and +on each hand seventy thousand fingers you could not +count upon your fingers in a whole lifetime the gold +sherifs and sequins and tomans which are hidden +away there in bags. Beneath the court of strangers +there is a great chamber built of stone in which the +sacks of gold are kept, and they are piled up to the +roof of the vault on all sides and in the middle, +leaving only narrow passages between.'</p> + +<p>'If it is all gold, what is the use of the passages?' +asked Abdullah.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span></p> + +<p>'I do not know, but they are there, and there is +another room filled with silver in the same manner. +There are also secret places underground in which +jewels are kept in chests, rubies and pearls and Indian +diamonds and emeralds, in such quantities that they +would suffice to make necklaces of a thousand rows +each for each of the mountains in my country. And +we have many mountains, great ones, not such as the +little hills you have seen, but several days' journey in +height. For we say that when the Lord made the +earth it was at first unsteady, and He set our mountains +upon it, in the middle, to make it firm, and it +has never moved since.'</p> + +<p>'I do not believe this,' said Abdullah. 'Tell me +more about the jewels in Riad.'</p> + +<p>'There is no end of them. They are like the +grains of sand in the desert, and no one of them is +worth less than a thousand gold sherifs. I do not +even know the names of the different kinds, but there +are turquoises without number, of the Maidan, and all +good, so that you may write upon them with a piece +of gold as with a pen; and there are red stones as +large as a dove's egg, red and fiery as the wine of +Kachetia, and others, blue as the sky in winter, and +yellow ones, and some with leaves of gold in them, +like morsels of treng floating in the juice. But +besides the gold and silver and precious stones there<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span> +are thousands of rich garments which are kept in +chests of fragrant wood, in upper chambers, abas woven +of gold and silk and linen, and vests embroidered with +pearls, and shoes of which even the soles appear to be +of gold. And there are great pieces of stuff, Indian +silk, and Persian velvet, and even satin from Stamboul, +woven by unbelievers with the help of devils. +Then too, in the palace of Riad, there are stored great +quantities of precious weapons, most of them made in +Syria, with many swords of Shām, which you say are +the best, though I do not understand the matter, each +having an inscription in letters of gold upon the +blade, and the hilt most cunningly chiselled in the +same metal, or carved out of ivory.'</p> + +<p>'I saw the treasure of Haïl when we took it away +after the war, and most of it was distributed among us, +but there was nothing like this,' said Abdullah.</p> + +<p>'The treasure of Haïl is to the treasure of Riad, as +a small black fly walking upon the face of the sun,' +answered Almasta. 'And yet there was wealth there +also, and there was much which you never saw. For +that Khaled, who is now Sultan, is crafty and avaricious, +and he loaded many camels secretly by night, +being helped by black slaves, all of whom he slew +afterwards with his own hand lest they should tell the +tale, and he then called camel-drivers and sent them +away with the beasts to Riad. And he said to them:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span> +"These are certain loads of fine wheat and of mellow +dates, for the Sultan's table, such as cannot be found in +Riad." But he sent a letter to his father-in-law, who +caused all the packs to be taken immediately to one +of the secret chambers, where he and his daughter +Zehowah took out the jewels and stored them with +their own. And as for me, I believe that Khaled +made an end of the Sultan himself by means of poison +in Dereyiyah, for he rode away suddenly after they +had met, as though his conscience smote him.'</p> + +<p>'What is this evil tale which you are telling me?' +cried Abdullah. 'Surely, it is a lie, for Khaled is a +brave man who gives every one his due and deceives +no one. And he is by no means subtle, for I have +heard him in council, and he generally said only, +"Smite," but sometimes he said "Strike," and that +was all his eloquence. But whether he said the one +or the other, he was generally the first to follow his +own advice which, indeed, by the merciful dispensation +of Allah, procured us the victory. But what is +this tale which you have invented?'</p> + +<p>'And who is this Khaled whom you praise?' +asked Almasta. 'And how can you know his craftiness +as I know it, who have lived in the palace and +braided his wife's hair, and brought him drink when +he was thirsty? Is he a man of your tribe whose +descent you can count upon your fingers, from him to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span> +his grandfather and to Ishmael and Abraham? Or is +he a man of a tribe known to you, and whose generations +you also know? Has any man called him +Khaled ibn Mohammed, or Khaled ibn Abdullah? Or +has he ever spoken of his father, who is probably now +drinking boiling water, and the black angels are pounding +his head with iron maces. Yet he says that he +came from the desert. Then you, who are of the desert, +do not know the desert, for you do not know whence +he is. But there are those who do know, and he fears +them, lest they should tell the truth and destroy him.'</p> + +<p>'These are idle tales,' said Abdullah. 'Is it +probable that the Sultan would have bestowed his +daughter and all the treasures you have described +upon such a man without having made inquiries concerning +his family? And if the Sultan said nothing +to us about it, and if Khaled holds his peace, they +have doubtless their reasons. For it may be that +there is a blood feud between the people of Khaled +and some great person in Riad, so that he would be in +danger of his life if he revealed his father's name. +Allah knows. It is not our business.'</p> + +<p>'O Abdullah, you are simple, and you believe all +things!' cried Almasta. 'But I heard of him in +Basrah.'</p> + +<p>'What did you hear in Basrah? And how could +you have heard of him there?'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span></p> + +<p>'I was in the Emir's harem, being kept there to +rest from the journey after they had brought me from +the north. And there I heard of Khaled, for the +women talked of him, having been told tales about him +by a merchant who was admitted to the palace.'</p> + +<p>'Now this is great folly,' answered Abdullah. 'For +Khaled came suddenly to Riad, and was married +immediately to Zehowah, and on the next day he +went out with us against Haïl, which we took from +the Shammar in three weeks' time from the day of our +marching. Moreover we found you there in the palace. +How then could news of Khaled have reached Basrah +before you left that place?'</p> + +<p>'I had come to Haïl but the day before you +attacked the city,' said Almasta. 'But did I say that +I had heard of him as already married to Zehowah?'</p> + +<p>For she saw that she had run the risk of being +found out in a lie, and she made haste to defend herself.</p> + +<p>'What did you hear of him?' asked Abdullah.</p> + +<p>'He was a notable fellow and a robber,' answered +Almasta. 'For he is a Persian, and a Shiyah, who +offers prayers to Ali in secret. But because he had +done many outrageous deeds, a great price was set +upon his head throughout Persia, so he fled into +Arabia and by his boldness and craft he married +Zehowah. And now he has made a secret covenant +to deliver over the kingdom of Nejed to the Persians.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span></p> + +<p>Then Abdullah laughed aloud.</p> + +<p>'Who shall deliver over the Bedouin to a white-faced +people, who live on boiled chestnuts and ride +astride of a camel? And when a man has got a +kingdom, why should he give it up to any one, except +under force?'</p> + +<p>'There is a reason for this, too,' Almasta answered +unabashed. 'For the King of the Persians, whom they +call the Padeshah, has an only daughter, of great +beauty, and Khaled is to receive her in marriage as +the price of Nejed. Then he will by treachery destroy +the Padeshah's sons and will inherit Persia also, as he +has inherited Nejed; and after that he will make war +upon the Romans in Stamboul and will become the +master of the whole world.'</p> + +<p>'This is a strange tale, and seems full of madness,' +said Abdullah. 'I do not believe it. Tell me rather +a story of your own country, and afterwards we will +sleep, for to-morrow we will leave this place.'</p> + +<p>'I will tell you a wonderful history, which is quite +true,' answered Almasta. 'Take this fresh piece of +frankincense which I have prepared for you, and put +it into your mouth, for you will then not interrupt me +with questions while I am speaking.'</p> + +<p>So Abdullah took the savoury gum and chewed it, +and Almasta told him the tale which here follows.</p> + +<p>'There is in the north, beyond Persia, a great and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span> +prosperous kingdom, lying between two seas, and +resembling paradise for its wonderful beauty. All the +hills are covered with trees of every description in +which innumerable birds make their nests, all of a +beautiful plumage and good for man to eat. And in +these forests there are also great herds of animals, +whose name I do not know in Arabic, having branching +horns and kindred to the little beast which you call +the cow of the desert, but far better to eat and as large +as full-grown camels. A man who is hungry need +only shoot an arrow at a venture, for the birds and +animals are so numerous that he will certainly hit +something. This kingdom is watered everywhere by +rivers and streams abounding in fish, all good to eat +and easily caught, and all the valleys are filled with +vineyards of black and white grapes. But the people +of this country are chiefly Christians. May Allah send +them enlightenment! Now the King was an old man, +who delighted in feasting and cared little for the affairs +of the nation, preferring a lute to a sword, and a wine-cup +to a shield, and the feet of dancing girls to the +hoofs of war horses. He had no son to go out to war +for him, but only one beautiful daughter.'</p> + +<p>'Like the Sultan of our country who died,' said +Abdullah.</p> + +<p>'Very much. There were also other points of +resemblance. Now there was a certain Tartar in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span> +kingdom of Samarkand, called Ismaïl, who was a +robber and had destroyed many caravans on the march, +and had broken into many houses both in Samarkand +and Tashkent, a notable evildoer. But having +one day stolen a fleet mare from the Sultan's stables, +the soldiers pursued him, and in order to escape impalement +he fled. No one could catch him because +the mare he had stolen was the fleetest in Great Tartary. +So he rode westward through many countries, and by +the shores of the inland sea, until he came to the +kingdom which I have described. There he hid himself +in the forest for some time and waylaid travellers, +making them tell him all that they knew of the +kingdom, and afterwards killing them. But when he +had obtained all that he wanted, both rich garments +and splendid weapons, and the necessary information, +he left the forest and rode into the capital city. Then +he went to the King and desired of him a private +audience, which was granted. He said that he was +the son of a powerful Christian prince, and had been +taken captive by the Tartars, but had escaped, and he +offered to make all Tartary subject to the King, if only +he might marry his daughter. And whether by magic, +or by eloquence, he succeeded, for the King was old +and feeble-minded. But soon after the wedding, he +poisoned his father-in-law and became king in his +place, though there were many in the land who had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span> +a better right, being closely connected with the royal +blood.'</p> + +<p>'This is the story of Khaled,' said Abdullah. 'I +know the truth. Why do you weary me, trying to +deceive me, and calling him a robber? But it is true +that in Nejed there are men of good descent who have +a better right to sit on the throne.'</p> + +<p>'Hear what followed,' answered Almasta. 'This +man Ismaïl afterwards took captive a woman of the +Tartars, who knew who he was, though he supposed +her ignorant. And he gave her in marriage to the +youngest and bravest of his captains, a man to whom +Allah had vouchsafed the tongue of eloquence, and the +teeth of strength, and the lips of discretion to close +together and hide both at the proper season. The +woman told her husband who Ismaïl was, and instructed +him concerning the palace, its passages and secret +places, and the treasures that were hidden there. And +she told him also that Ismaïl had made a covenant +with the Sultan of his own country, which would +bring destruction upon the nation he now ruled. For +she loved her husband on account of his youth and +beauty, and she had embraced his faith and was ready +to die for him.'</p> + +<p>'The husband's name was Abdullah,' said Abdullah. +'And he also loved his wife, who surpassed other +women in beauty, as a bay mare surpasses pigs.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span></p> + +<p>'He afterwards loved her still better,' answered +Almasta, 'for though he was only chief over four +hundred tents, she gave him a kingdom. Hear what +followed. But I will call him Abdullah if you please, +though his name was Mskhet.'</p> + +<p>'Allah is merciful! There are no such names in +Arabia. This one is like the breaking of earthen +vessels upon stones. Call him Abdullah.'</p> + +<p>'Abdullah therefore went to the wisest and most +discreet of his kindred, and spoke to them of the great +treasures which were hidden in the palace, and he +pointed out to their obscured sight that all this wealth +had been got by them and their fathers in war, and +had been taken in tithes from the people, and was +now in the possession of Ismaïl. And they talked +among themselves and saw that this was indeed +true. And at another time, he told them that Ismaïl +was not really of their religion, but a hypocrite. And +again a third time he told them the whole truth, so +that their hearts burned when they knew that their +King was but a robber who had been condemned to +death. Though they were discreet men, the story was +in some way told abroad among the soldiers, doubtless +by the intervention of angels, so that all the people +knew it, and were angry against Ismaïl and ready to +break out against him so soon as a man could be found +to lead them.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span>'</p> + +<p>'But,' said Abdullah, 'this Ismaïl doubtless had a +strong guard of soldiers about him, and had given gifts +to his captains, and shown honour to them, so that they +were attached to him.'</p> + +<p>'Undoubtedly,' replied Almasta, 'and but for his +wife, Abdullah could not have succeeded. She advised +him to go to his discreet kindred and friends and +say to them, "See, if you will afterwards support me, I +will go alone into the palace and will get the better of +this Ismaïl, when he is asleep, and I will so do that the +soldiers shall not oppose me. And afterwards, you will +all enter together and the treasure shall be divided. +But we will throw some of it to the people, lest they +be disappointed." And so he did. For his wife knew +the secret entrances to the palace and took him in with +her by night, disguised as a woman. And they went +together silently into the harem, and slew Ismaïl and +bound his wife, and took the keys of the treasure +chambers from under the pillow. After this they took +from the gold as many bags as there were soldiers, and +waked each man, giving him a sack of sherifs, and +bidding him take as much more as he could find, for +the King was dead. Then Abdullah's friends were admitted +and they divided the treasure, and went abroad +before it was day, calling upon the people that Ismaïl +was dead and that a man of their own nation was +King in his place, and scattering handfuls of gold into<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span> +every house as they passed. And, behold, before the +second call to prayer, Abdullah was King, and all the +people came and did homage to him. And Abdullah +himself was astonished when he saw how easy it had +been, and loved his wife even better than before.'</p> + +<p>So Almasta finished her tale and there was silence +for a time, while Abdullah sat still and gazed at the +closed tents in the starlight, and listened to the distant +chewing of the camels.</p> + +<p>'Give me some water,' he said at last. 'I am very +thirsty.'</p> + +<p>She brought him drink from the skin, and soon +afterwards he lay down to rest. But they said nothing +more to each other that night of the story which Almasta +had told.</p> + +<p>On the following day they journeyed fully eleven +hours, to a place where there was much water, and +in the evening, when the camels were chewing, and +all the Bedouins had eaten and were resting in +their tents, Abdullah sat again in his accustomed +place.</p> + +<p>'Almasta, light of my darkness,' he said, 'I would +gladly hear again something of the tale you told me +last night, for I have not remembered it well, being +overburdened with the cares of my people and the +direction of the march. Surely you said that when +the woman and her husband had killed Ismaïl they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span> +took the keys of the treasure chambers from under his +pillow. Is it not so?'</p> + +<p>'They did so, Abdullah,'</p> + +<p>'And they immediately went and took the gold and +gave it to the guards? But I have forgotten, for it is +a matter of little importance, being but a tale.'</p> + +<p>'That is what they did,' answered Almasta.</p> + +<p>'But surely this is a fable. How could the woman +know the way to the treasure chambers and find it in +the dark? For you said also that these secret places +were underground and therefore a great way from the +harem.'</p> + +<p>'I did not say that, Abdullah, for the secret places +underground are those in Riad, which I described to +you before I began the other story.'</p> + +<p>'This may be true, for I am very forgetful. But I +daresay that the treasures in the city you described +were also hidden in similar places.'</p> + +<p>'Since you speak of this, I remember that it was +so. The glorious light of your intelligence penetrates +the darkness of my memory and makes it clear. The +places were exactly similar.'</p> + +<p>'How then could the woman, who only knew the +harem, find her way in the dark, and lead her husband, +to a part of the palace which she had never visited? +This is a hard thing.'</p> + +<p>'It was not hard for her. She had seen Ismaïl<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span> +open with his key a door in his sleeping chamber, and +he had gone in and after some time had returned +bearing sacks of gold pieces. Was this a hard thing? +Or does a wise man make two doors to his treasure-house, +the one for himself and the other for thieves? +The one leading to his own chamber, for his own use, +and the other opening upon the highway for the convenience +of robbers? It is possible, but I think not. +Ismaïl had but one door. He was not an Egyptian +jackass.'</p> + +<p>'This is reasonable,' said Abdullah. 'And I am +now satisfied. But my imagination was not at rest, for +the story is a good one and deserves to be well told.'</p> + +<p>After this Abdullah wandered for a long time with +the Bedouins who accompanied him, often changing his +direction, so that they wondered whither he was leading +them, and began to question him. But he answered +that he had heard secretly of a great spoil to be taken, +and that they should all have a share of it, and whenever +they came upon Arabs of another tribe Abdullah +invited the sheikh and the most notable men to his +tent and entertained them sumptuously with camel's +meat, afterwards talking long with them in private. +Before many weeks had passed, the skilful men of the +tribe, who knew the signs, were aware that many other +Bedouins were travelling in the same direction as +themselves, though they could not be seen.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span></p> + +<p>But neither Abdullah's men, nor Almasta herself, +could know that in three months the sheikhs of all the +tribes from Hasa to Harb, and from Ajman to El +Kora, had heard that Khaled the Sultan was a Persian +robber, and a Shiyah at heart, venerating Ali and +execrating the true Sonna, a man who in all probability +drank wine in secret, and who was certainly plotting +to deliver up all Nejed to the power of the Ajjem. +Some of them believed the tale readily enough, for all +had asked whence Khaled was and none had got an +answer. Could a man be of the desert, they asked, +and yet not be known by name in any of the tribes, +nor his father before him? Surely, there was a secret, +they said, and he who will not tell the name of his +father has a reason for changing his own. And as for +his being brave and having fought well in the war +with the Shammar, how could a man have been a +robber if he were not brave, and why should he not +fight manfully, since he had everything to gain and +nothing to lose? As for the spoils, too, he had made +a pretence of dividing them justly, but it was now +well known that he had laden camels by stealth at +Haïl and had sent them secretly to Riad, slaughtering +with his own hand all those who had helped him.</p> + +<p>Little by little, too, the story came to Riad and +was told in a low voice by merchants in the bazar, +and repeated by their wives among their acquaintance,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span> +and by the slaves in the market and among the +beggars who begged by the doors of the great mosque +but were fed daily from the palace. And though many +persons of the better sort thought that the story might +be true, and wagged their heads when Khaled's +name was spoken, yet the beggars with one accord +declared that it was a lie. For Khaled was generous +in almsgiving, and they said, 'If Khaled is overthrown +and another Sultan set up in his place, how do we +know whether there will be boiled camel's meat from +time to time as well as blanket-bread and a small +measure of barley meal? And will the next Sultan +scatter gold in the streets as Khaled did on the first +day when he rode to the mosque? Truly these chatterers +of Bedouins talk much of the treasure in the +palace which will be divided, but they who talk most +of gold, are they who most desire it, and we shall get +none. Therefore we say it is a lie, and Khaled is a +true man, and a Sonna like ourselves, not a swiller of +wine nor a devourer of pigs. Allah show him mercy +now and at the day of resurrection! The cock-sparrow +is pluming his breast while the hunter is pulling the +string of the snare.'</p> + +<p>Thus the beggars talked among themselves all day, +reasoning after the manner of their kind. But they +suffered other people to talk as they pleased, for one +who desires alms must not exhibit a contradictory<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span> +disposition, lest the rich man be offended and eat the +melon together with the melon peels, and exclaim that +the dirt-scraper has become a preacher. For the rich +man's anger is at the edge of his nostrils and always +ready.</p> + +<p>As the winter passed away and the spring began, +the tribes of the desert drew nearer and nearer to the +city, as is their wont at that season. For many of the +sheikhs had houses in the city, in which they spent +the hot months of the year, while their people were +encamped in the low hill country not far off, where the +heat is less fierce than in the plains and the deserts. +And now also the season of the Haj was approaching, +for Ramadhan was not far off, and the beggars +congregated at the gates waiting for the first pilgrims, +and expecting plentiful alms, which in due time they +received, for in that year Abdullah did not molest the +Persian pilgrimage, his mind being occupied with other +matters.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX</h3> + + +<p>The story which was thus repeated from mouth to +mouth in Riad reached the palace at the last, and the +guards told it to each other as they sat together under +the shadow of the great wall, the cooks related it +among themselves in the kitchen, and the black slaves +gossiped about it in the corners of the courtyard, and +the women slaves stood and listened while they talked +and carried the tale into the harem. But the people +of the palace were more slow to believe than the people +of the city, for they shared in a measure in Khaled's +right of possession, and desired no change of master, +so that for a long time neither Zehowah nor Khaled +heard anything of what was commonly reported. Yet +at last the old woman who had been Zehowah's nurse +told her the substance of the story, with many protestations +of unbelief, and of anger against those who +had invented the lie.</p> + +<p>'It is right that my lady and mistress should know +these things,' she said, 'and when our lord the Sultan +has been informed of them, he will doubtless cause his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span> +soldiers to go forth with sticks and purify the hides of +the chief evil-speakers in the bazar. There is one +especially, a merchant whose shop is opposite the door +of the little mosque, who is continually bold in falsehood, +being the same who sold me this garment for +linen; but it afterwards turned out to be cotton and +the gold threads are brass and have turned black. I +pray Allah to be just as well as merciful.'</p> + +<p>At first Zehowah laughed, but soon afterwards her +face became grave, and she bent her brows, for though +the story was but a lie she saw how easily it would +find credence. She therefore sent the old woman +away with a gift and she herself went to Khaled, and +sat down beside him and took his hand.</p> + +<p>'You have secret enemies,' she said, 'who are +plotting against your life, and who have already begun +to attack you by filling the air of the city with falsehoods +which fly from house to house like flies in summer +entering at the window and going out by the door. You +must sift this matter, for it is worthy of attention.'</p> + +<p>'And what are these lies of which you speak?'</p> + +<p>'It is said openly in the city that you are a Shiyah +and a Persian, having been a robber before you came +here, and that you are plotting to deliver over Nejed to +the Persians. Look to this, Khaled, for they say +that you are no Bedouin since no one knows your +descent nor the name of your father.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Do you believe this of me, Zehowah?' Khaled +asked.</p> + +<p>'Do I believe that the sun is black and the night +as white as the sun? But it is true that I do not +know your father's name.'</p> + +<p>Then Khaled was troubled, for he saw that it would +be a hard matter to explain, and that without explanation +his safety might be endangered. Zehowah sat +still beside him, holding his hand and looking into his +face, as though expecting an answer.</p> + +<p>'Have I done wisely in telling you?' she asked at +last. 'You are troubled. I should have said nothing.'</p> + +<p>'You have done wisely,' he answered. 'For I will +go and speak to them, and if they believe me, the +matter is finished, but if not I have lost nothing.'</p> + +<p>'It will be well to give the chief men presents, and +to distribute something among the people, for gifts are +great persuaders of unbelief.'</p> + +<p>'Shall I give them presents because they have +believed evil of me?' asked Khaled, laughing. 'Rather +would I give you the treasures of the whole earth +because you have not believed it.'</p> + +<p>'If I had the wealth of the whole world I would +give it to them rather than that they should hurt a hair +of your head,' Zehowah answered.</p> + +<p>'Am I more dear to you than so much gold, +Zehowah?'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span></p> + +<p>'What is gold that it should be weighed in the +balance with the life of a man? You are dearer to +me than gold.'</p> + +<p>'Is this love, Zehowah?' Khaled asked, in a low +voice.</p> + +<p>'I do not know whether it be love or not.'</p> + +<p>'The wing of night is lifted for a moment, and the +false dawn is seen, and afterwards it is night again. +But the true dawn will come by and by, when night +folds her wings before the day.'</p> + +<p>'You speak in a riddle, Khaled.'</p> + +<p>'It is no matter. I will neither make a speech +to the people, nor give them gifts. What is it to me? +Let them chatter from the first call to prayer until the +lights are put out in the evening. My fate is about +my neck, and I cannot change it, any more than I can +make you love me. Allah is great. I will wait and +see what happens.'</p> + +<p>'Everything is undoubtedly in Allah's hand,' said +Zehowah. 'But if a man, having meat set before him, +will not raise his right hand to thrust it into the dish, +he will die of hunger.'</p> + +<p>'And do you think that Allah does not know +before whether the man will stretch out his hand or +not?'</p> + +<p>'Undoubtedly Allah knows. And he also knows +that if you will not sift this matter and stop the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span> +mouths of the liars, I will, though I am but a woman, +for otherwise we may both perish.'</p> + +<p>'If they destroy me, yet they cannot take the +kingdom from you, nor hurt you,' said Khaled. 'How +then are you in danger? If I am slain you will then +choose a husband, whose father's name is known to +them. They will be satisfied and you will be no worse +off than before and possibly better. This is truth. I +will therefore wait for the end.'</p> + +<p>'Who has put these words into your mouth, Khaled? +For the thought is not in your heart. Moreover, if +the tribes should rise up and overthrow you, they would +not spare me, for I would fight against them with my +hands and they would kill me.'</p> + +<p>'Why should you fight for me, since you do not +love me? But this is folly. No one ever heard of +a woman taking arms and fighting.'</p> + +<p>'I have heard of such deeds. And if I had not +heard of them, others should through me, for I would be +the first to do them.'</p> + +<p>'I think that so long as Khaled lives, Zehowah +need not bear arms,' said Khaled. 'I will therefore +go and call the chief men together and speak to +them.'</p> + +<p>And so he did. When the principal officers who +had remained in the city during the winter season +were assembled in the kahwah, and had hung up their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span> +swords on the pegs and partaken of a refreshment, +Khaled sent the slaves away, and spoke in a few words +as was his manner.</p> + +<p>'Men of Riad, Aared and all Nejed,' he said, 'I +regret that more of you are not present here, but a +great number of sheikhs are still in the desert, and it +cannot be helped. I desire to tell you that I have +heard of a tale concerning me which is circulated from +mouth to ear throughout Riad and the whole kingdom. +This tale is untrue, a lie such as no honest man repeats +even to his own wife at home in the harem. For it is +said that I am not called Khaled, but perhaps Ali +Hassan, or perhaps Ali Hussein, that I am a Shiyah, +a wine-bibber and an idolatrous one who prays for +the intercession of Ali, besides being a Persian and a +robber. It is also said that I plot to deliver over the +kingdom of Nejed to the Persians, though how this +could be done I do not know, seeing that the Persians +are a meal-faced people of white jackals who do not +know how to ride a camel. These are all lies. I +swear by Allah.'</p> + +<p>When the men heard these words, they looked +stealthily one at another, to see who would answer +Khaled, for they had all heard the story and most of +them were inclined to believe it. Peace is the mother +of evil-speaking, as garbage breeds flies in a corner, +which afterwards fly into clean houses and men ask<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span> +whence they come. But none of the chief men found +anything to say at first, so that Khaled sat in silence +a long time, waiting for some one to speak. He therefore +turned to the one nearest to him, and addressed +him.</p> + +<p>'Have you heard this tale?' he inquired. 'And +if you have heard it do you believe it?'</p> + +<p>'I think, indeed, that I have heard something of +the kind,' answered the man. 'But it was as the +chattering of an uncertain vision in a dream, which +rings in the ears for a moment while it is yet dark in +the morning, but is forgotten when the sun rises. By +the instrumentality of a just mind Allah caused that +which entered at one ear to run out from the other as +the rinsing of a water-skin.'</p> + +<p>'Good,' answered Khaled. 'Yet it is not well to +rinse the brains with falsehoods. And you?' he +inquired, turning to the next. 'Have you heard it +also?'</p> + +<p>'Just lord, I have heard,' replied this one. 'But +if I have believed, may my head be shaved with a +red-hot razor having a jagged edge.'</p> + +<p>'This is well,' Khaled said, and he questioned a +third.</p> + +<p>'O Khaled!' cried the man. 'Is the milk sour, +because the slave has imagined a lie saying, "I will +say it is bad and then it will be given to me to drink"?<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span> +Or is honey bitter because the cook has put salt in the +sweetmeats? Or is it night because the woman has +shut the door and the window, to keep out the sun?'</p> + +<p>The next also found an answer, having collected +his thoughts while the others were speaking.</p> + +<p>'A certain man,' said he, 'kept sheep in Tabal +Shammar, and the dog was with the sheep in the fold. +Then two foxes came to the fold in the evening and +one of them said to the man: "All dogs are wolves, +for we have seen their like in the mountains, and your +dog is also a wolf and will eat up your sheep. Make +haste to kill him therefore and cast out his carcass." +And to the sheep the other fox said: "How many +sheep hang by the heels at the butcher's! And how +many dogs live in sheepfolds! This is an evil world for +innocent people." And the sheep were at first persuaded, +but presently the dog ran out and caught one +of the foxes and broke his neck, and the man threw a +stone at the other and hit him, so that he also died. +Then the sheep said one to another: "The foxes have +suffered justly, for they were liars and robbers and the +dog and our master have protected us against them, +which they would not have done had they desired our +destruction." And so are the people, O Khaled. For +if you let the liars go unhurt the people will believe +them, but if you destroy them the faith of the multitude +will be turned again to you.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span></p> + +<p>'This is a fable,' said Khaled, 'and it is not without +truth. I am the sheep-dog and the people are +the sheep. But in the name of Allah, which are the +foxes?'</p> + +<p>Then he turned to another, an old man who was +the Kadi, celebrated for his wisdom and for his +religious teaching in the chief mosque.</p> + +<p>'I ask you last of all,' said Khaled, 'because you +are the wisest, and when the wisest words are heard +last they are most easily remembered. For we first +put water into the lamp, and then oil to float upon +the surface, and next the wick, and last of all we take +a torch and light the lamp and the darkness disappears. +Light our lamp, therefore, O Kadi, and +let us see clearly.'</p> + +<p>'O Khaled,' replied the Kadi, 'I am old and +have seen the world. You cannot destroy the tree by +cutting off one or two of its branches. It is necessary +to strike at the root. Now the root of this tree of +lies which has grown up is this. Neither we nor the +people know whence you are, nor what was your +father's name, and though I for my part do not impiously +ask whence Allah takes the good gifts which +he gives to men, there are many who are not satisfied, +and who will go about in jealousy to make trouble +until their questioning is answered. If you ask +counsel of me, I say, tell us here present of what<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span> +tribe you are, for we believe you a pure Bedouin like +the best of us, and tell us your father's name, and +peace be upon him. We are men in authority and +will speak to the people, and I will address them from +the pulpit of the great mosque, and they will believe +us. Then all will be ended, and the lies will be +extinguished as the coals of an evening fire go out +when the night frost descends upon the camp in +winter. But if you will not tell us, yet I, for one, do +not believe ill of you; and moreover you are lord, +and we are vassals, so long as you are King and hold +good and evil in your hand.'</p> + +<p>'So long as I am King,' Khaled repeated. 'And +you think that if I do not tell my father's name, I +shall not be where I am for a long time.'</p> + +<p>'Allah is wise, and knows,' answered the Kadi, +but he would say nothing more.</p> + +<p>'This is plain speaking,' said Khaled, 'such as I +like. But I might plainly take advantage of it. You +desire to know my father's name and whence I come. +Then is it not easy for me to say that I come from a +distant part of the Great Dahna? Is there a man in +Nejed who has crossed the Red Desert? And if I say +that my father was Mohammed ibn Abd el Hamid +ibn Abd el Latif, and so on to our father Ismaïl, upon +whom be peace, shall any one deny that I speak truth? +This is a very easy matter.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span></p> + +<p>'So much the more will it be easy for us to satisfy +the people,' answered the Kadi.</p> + +<p>'No doubt. I will think of what you have said. +And now, I pray you, partake of another refreshment +and go in peace.'</p> + +<p>At this all the chief men looked one at the other +again, for they saw that Khaled would not tell them +what they wished to know. And those of them who +had doubted the story before now began to believe it. +But they held their peace, and presently made their +salutation and took their swords from the wall and +departed.</p> + +<p>Khaled then left the kahwah and returned to +Zehowah in the harem.</p> + +<p>'I have told them that these tales are lies,' he said, +'but they do not believe me.'</p> + +<p>He repeated to Zehowah all that had been said, +and she listened attentively, for she began to understand +that there was danger not far off.</p> + +<p>'And I told them,' he said at last, 'that it would +be as easy for me to invent names, as for them to hear +them. Then they looked sideways each at the other +and kept silent.'</p> + +<p>'This is a foolish thing which you have done,' +answered Zehowah. 'They will now all believe that +your father was an evildoer and that you yourself +are no better. Otherwise, they will say, why should<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span> +he wish to conceal anything? You should have told +them the truth, whatever it is.'</p> + +<p>'You also wish to know it, I see,' said Khaled, +looking at Zehowah curiously. 'But if I were to tell +you, you would not believe me, I think, any more than +they would.'</p> + +<p>Then Zehowah looked at him in her turn, but he +could not understand the language of her eyes.</p> + +<p>'What is this secret of yours?' she asked. 'I +would indeed like to hear it, and if you swear to me +that it is true, by Allah, I will believe you. For you +are a very truthful man, and not subtle.'</p> + +<p>But Khaled was troubled at this. For he knew +that she would find it hard to believe; and that if she +did believe it, she would be terrified to think that she +had married one of the genii, and if not, she would +suspect him of a hidden purpose in telling her an +empty fable, and he would then be further from her +love than before. He held his peace, therefore, for +some time, while she watched him, playing with her +beads. In reality she was very curious to know the +truth, though she had always been unwilling to ask it +of him, seeing that she had married him as a stranger, +of her own will and choice, without inquiry.</p> + +<p>'Is it just,' she asked at last, 'that the people +should accuse you of evil deeds and fill the air of the +city with falsehoods concerning you, so that the very<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span> +slaves hear the guards repeating the lies to each other +in the courtyard, and that I, who am your wife, should +not know the truth? What have I done that you +should not trust me? Or what have I said that you +should regard me no more than a slave who sprinkles +the floor and makes the fire, and while she is present +in the room you hold your peace lest she should know +your thoughts and betray them? Am I not your +wife, and faithful? Have I not given you a kingdom +and treasure beyond counting? Surely there were +times when you talked more freely with that barbarian +slave-woman, whose hair was red, than you ever talk +with me.'</p> + +<p>'This is not true,' said Khaled. 'And if I talked +familiarly with Almasta, you know the reason, for you +yourself found it out, and called me simple for trying +to deceive you. And now she is gone to the desert +with her husband and there is no more question of her, +or her red hair. But all the rest is true, and you have +indeed given me a kingdom, which I am likely to lose +and wealth which I do not desire, though you have not +given me that which I covet more than gold or kingdoms, +for I desire it indeed, and that is your love. +Moreover if you have given me the rest, I have done +something in return, for I have fought for your people, +and shed my blood freely, and given you a nation captive, +besides loving you and refusing to take another<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span> +wife into my house. And this last is a matter of +which some women would think more highly than +you.'</p> + +<p>But Zehowah's curiosity was burning within her like +a thirst, for although she had at first cared little to +know of Khaled's former life, she was astonished at his +persistency in keeping the secret now, seeing that the +whole country was full of false rumours about him.</p> + +<p>'How can a man expect that a woman should love +him, if he will not put his trust in her?' she asked.</p> + +<p>Then Khaled did not hesitate any longer, for he was +never slow to do anything by which there seemed to be +any hope of gaining her love. He therefore took her +hand in his, and it trembled a little so that he was +pleased, though indeed the unsteadiness came more +from her anxiety to know the story he was about to +tell, than from any love she felt at that moment.</p> + +<p>'You have sworn that you will believe me, Zehowah,' +he said. 'But I forewarn you that there are +hard things to understand. For the reason why I will +not tell my father's name, nor the name of my tribe is +a plain one, seeing that I was not born like other men, +and have no father at all, and my brethren are not men +but genii of the air, created from the beginning and +destined to die at the second blast of the trumpet before +the resurrection of the dead.'</p> + +<p>At this Zehowah started suddenly in fright and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span> +looked into his face, expecting to see that he had coals +of fire for eyes and an appalling countenance. But +when she saw that he was not changed and had the +face of a man and the eyes of a man, she laughed.</p> + +<p>'What is this idle tale of Afrits?' she exclaimed. +'Frighten children with it.'</p> + +<p>'This is what I foresaw in you,' said Khaled. +'You cannot believe me. Of what use is it then to +tell you my story?'</p> + +<p>Zehowah answered nothing, for she was angry, +supposing that Khaled was attempting to put her off +with a foolish tale. She had heard, indeed, of Genii and +Afrits and she was sure that they had existence, since +they were expressly mentioned in the Koran, but she +had never heard that any of them had taken the shape +and manner of a man. She remembered also how +Khaled had always fought with his hands in war, like +other men and been wounded, and she was sure that if +his story were true he would have summoned whole +legions of his fellows through the air to destroy the +enemy.</p> + +<p>'You do not believe me,' he repeated somewhat +bitterly. 'And if you do not believe me, how shall +others do so?'</p> + +<p>'You ask me to believe too much. If you ask for +my faith, you must offer me truths and not fables. It +is true that I am curious, which is foolish and womanly.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span> +But if you do not wish to tell me your secret, I cannot +force you to do so, nor have I any right to expect confidence. +Let us therefore talk of other things, or else +not talk at all, for though you will not satisfy me you +cannot deceive me in this way.'</p> + +<p>'So you also believe that I am a Persian and a +robber,' said Khaled. 'Is it not so?'</p> + +<p>'How can I tell what you are, if you will not tell +me? Is your name written in your face that I may +know it is indeed Khaled and not Ali Hassan as the +people say? Or is the record of your deeds inscribed +upon your forehead for me to read? You may be a +Persian. I cannot tell.'</p> + +<p>Then Khaled bent his brows and turned his eyes +away from her, for he was angry and disappointed, +though indeed she knew in her heart that he was no +Persian. But she let him suppose that she thought +so, hoping perhaps to goad him into satisfying her +curiosity.</p> + +<p>If Khaled had been a man like other men, as +Zehowah supposed him to be, he would doubtless have +invented a well-framed history such as she would have +believed, at least for the present. But to him such a +falsehood appeared useless, for he had seen the world +during many ages and had observed that a lie is never +really successful except by chance, seeing that no intelligence +is profound enough to foresee the manner in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span> +which it will be some day examined, whereas the +truth, being always coincident with the reality, can +never be wholly refuted.</p> + +<p>Khaled therefore hesitated as to whether he should +tell his story from the beginning, or hold his peace; +but in the end he decided to speak, because it was intolerable +to him to be thought an evildoer by her.</p> + +<p>'You make haste to disbelieve, before you have +heard all,' he said at last. 'Hear me to the end. I +have told you that I slew the Indian prince. That +was before I became a man. You yourself could not +understand how I was able to enter the palace and +carry him away without being observed. But as I +was at that time able to fly and to make both myself +and him invisible, this need not surprise you. If you +do not believe that I did it, let us order a litter to be +brought for you, and I will take my mare and a +sufficient number of attendants, and let us ride southwards +into the Red Desert. There I will show you +the man's bones. You will probably recognise them +by the gold chain which he wore about his neck and +by his ring. After that, when I had buried him, the +messenger of Allah came to me, and because the man +was an unbeliever, and had intended to embrace the +faith outwardly, having evil in his heart, Allah did +not destroy me immediately, but commanded that the +angel Asrael should write my name in the book of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span> +life, that I might become a man. But Allah gave me +no soul, promising only that if I could win your love, +whose suitor I had killed, I should receive an immortal +spirit, which should then be judged according +to my deeds. This is truth. I swear it in the name +of Allah, the merciful, the compassionate. Then an +angel gave me garments such as men wear, and a +sword, and a good mare, and I travelled hither to +Riad, eating locusts for food. And though no man +knew me, you married me at once, for it was the will of +Allah, whose will shall also be done to the end. The +rest you know. If, therefore, you will love me before +I die, I shall receive a soul and it may be that I shall +inherit paradise, for I am a true believer and have +shed blood for the faith. But if you do not love me, +when I die I shall perish as the flame of a lamp that +is blown out at dawn. This is the truth.'</p> + +<p>He ceased from speaking and looked again at +Zehowah. At first he supposed from her face that +she believed him, and his heart was comforted, but +presently she smiled, and he understood that she was +not convinced. For the story had interested her +greatly and she had almost forgotten not to believe it, +but when she no longer heard his voice, it seemed too +hard for her.</p> + +<p>'This is a strange tale,' she said, 'and it will +probably not satisfy the people.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span></p> + +<p>'I do not care whether they are satisfied or not,' +Khaled answered. 'All I desire is to be believed by +you, for I cannot bear that you should think me what +I am not.'</p> + +<p>'What can I do? I cannot say to my intelligence, +take this and reject that, any more than I can say to +my heart, love or love not. It would indeed have +been easier if you had said, "I am a certain Persian, +a fugitive, protect me, for my enemies are upon me." +I could perhaps give you protection if you require it, +as you may. But you come to me with a monstrous +tale, and you ask me to love, not a man, but a Jinn or +an Afrit, or whatever it pleases you to call yourself. +Assuredly this is too hard for me.'</p> + +<p>And again Zehowah smiled scornfully, for she was +really beginning to think that he might be a Persian +disguised as the people said.</p> + +<p>'I need no protection from man or woman,' said +Khaled, 'for I fear neither the one nor the other. +For I am strong, and if I am able to give out of +charity I am also able to take by force. My fate is +ever with me. I cannot escape it. But neither can +others escape theirs. I will fight alone if need be, +for if you will not love me I care little how I may +end. Moreover, in battle, it is not good to stand in +the way of a man who seeks death.'</p> + +<p>But Zehowah thought this might be the speech of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span> +a desperate man such as Ali Hassan, the robber, as +well as of Khaled, the Jinn, and she was not convinced, +though she no longer smiled. For she knew little of +supernatural beings, and a devil might easily call himself +a good spirit, so that she was convinced that she +was married either to a demon or to a dangerous robber, +and she could not even decide which of the two she +would have preferred, for either was bad enough, and as +for love there could no longer be any question of that.</p> + +<p>Khaled understood well enough and rose from his +seat and went away, desiring to be alone. He knew +that he was now surrounded by danger on every side +and that he could not even look to his wife for comfort, +since she also believed him to be an impostor.</p> + +<p>'Truly,' he said to himself, 'this is a task beyond +accomplishment, which Allah has laid upon me. It +is harder to get a woman's love than to win kingdoms, +and it is easier to destroy a whole army with +one stroke of a sword than to make a woman believe +that which she does not desire. And now the end is +at hand. For she will never love me and I shall +certainly perish in this fight, being alone against so +many. Allah assuredly did not intend me to run +away, and moreover there is no reason left for remaining +alive.'</p> + +<p>On that day Khaled again called the chief men +together in his kahwah, and addressed them briefly.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Men of Riad,' he said, 'I am aware that there is +a conspiracy to overthrow and destroy me, and I +daresay that you yourselves are among the plotters. +I will not tell you who I am, but I swear by Allah +that I am neither a Persian nor a robber, nor yet a +Shiyah. You will doubtless attack me unawares, but +you will not find me sleeping. I will kill as many +of you as I can, and afterwards I also shall undoubtedly +be killed, for I am alone and you have +many thousands on your side. Min Allah—it is in +Allah's hands. Go in peace.'</p> + +<p>So they departed, shaking their heads, but saying +nothing.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X</h3> + + +<p>The Sheikh of the beggars was an old man, blind from +his childhood, but otherwise strong and full of health, +delighting in quarrels and swift to handle his staff. +He had at first become a beggar, being still a young +man, for his father and mother had died without +making provision for him, and he had no brothers. +As he boasted that he was of the pure blood of the +desert on both sides, the other beggars jeered at him +in the beginning, calling him Ibn el Sheikh in derision +and sometimes stealing his food from him. But +he beat them mightily, the just and the unjust +together, since he could not see, and acquired great +consideration amongst them, after which he behaved +generously, giving his share with the rest for the +common good, and something more. His companions +learned also that his story was true and that his +blood was as good as any from Ajman to El Kara, for +a Bedouin of the same tribe as Abdullah, the husband +of Almasta, came to see him not less than once every +year, and called him brother and filled his sack with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span> +barley. This Bedouin was a person of consideration, +also, as the beggars saw from his having a mare of +his own, provided with a good saddle, and from his +weapons. In the course of time therefore the blind +man grew great in the eyes of his fellows, until they +called him Sheikh respectfully, and waited on him +when he performed his ablutions, and he obtained +over them a supremacy as great as was Khaled's over +the kingdom he governed. He was very wise also, +acquainted with the interpretation of dreams, and able +to recite various chapters of the Koran. It was even +said that he was able to distinguish a good man from +a bad by the sound of his tread, though some thought +that he only heard the jingling of coins in the girdle, +and judged by this, having a finer hearing than other +men. At all events he was often aware that a person +able to give alms was approaching, while his companions +were talking among themselves and noticed +nothing, though they had eyes to see, being mostly +only cripples and lepers.</p> + +<p>On a certain day in the spring, when the sun was +beginning to be hot and not long after Khaled had +told Zehowah his story, many of the beggars were +sitting in the eastern gate, by which the great road +issues out of the city towards Hasa. They expected +the coming of the first pilgrims every day, for the +season was advancing. And now they sat talking<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span> +together of the good prospects before them, and rejoicing +that the winter was over so that they would +not suffer any more from the cold.</p> + +<p>'There is a horseman on the road,' said the Sheikh +of the beggars, interrupting the conversation. 'O you +to whom Allah has preserved the light of day, look +forth and tell me who the rider is.'</p> + +<p>'It is undoubtedly a pilgrim,' answered a young +beggar, who was a stranger but had found his way to +Riad without legs, no man knew how.</p> + +<p>'Ass of Egypt,' replied the Sheikh reprovingly, 'do +pilgrims ride at a full gallop upon steeds of pure +blood? But though your eyes are open your ears are +deaf with the sleep of stupidity from which there is no +awakening. That is a good horse, ridden by a light +rider. Truly a man must itch to be called Haji who +gallops thus on the road to Mecca.'</p> + +<p>Then the others looked, and at last one of them +spoke, a hunchback having but one eye, but that one +was keen.</p> + +<p>'O Sheikh,' he said, 'rejoice and praise Allah, for I +think it is he whom you call your brother, who comes +in from the desert to visit you.'</p> + +<p>'If that is the case, I will indeed give thanks,' +answered the blind man, 'for there is little in my +barley-sack, less in my wallet and nothing at all in +my stomach. Allah is gracious and compassionate!'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span></p> + +<p>The hunchback's eye had not deceived him, and +before long the Bedouin dismounted at the gate and +looked about until he saw the Sheikh of the beggars, +who indeed had already risen to welcome him. When +they had embraced the Bedouin led the blind man +along in the shadow of the eastern wall until they +were so far from the rest that they might freely talk +without being overheard. Then they sat down together, +and the mare stood waiting before them.</p> + +<p>'O my brother,' the Bedouin began, 'was not my +mother the adopted daughter of your uncle, upon whom +be peace? And have I not called you brother and filled +your barley-sack from time to time these many years?'</p> + +<p>'This is true,' answered the Sheikh of the beggars. +'Allah will requite you with seventy thousand days of +unspeakable bliss for every grain of barley you have +caused to pass my teeth. "Be constant in prayer and +in giving alms," says the holy book, "and you shall +find with Allah all the good which you have sent +before you, for your souls." And it is also said, "Give +alms to your kindred, and to the poor and to orphans." +I am also grateful for all you have done, and my gratitude +grows as a palm tree in the garden of my soul +which is irrigated by your charity.'</p> + +<p>'It is well, my brother, it is well. I know the +uprightness of your heart, and I have not ridden +hither from the desert to count the treasure which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span> +may be in store for me in paradise. Allah knows the +good, as well as the evil. I have come for another +purpose. But tell me first, what is the news in the +city? Are there no strange rumours afloat of late +concerning Khaled the Sultan?'</p> + +<p>'In each man's soul there are two wells,' said the +blind man. 'The one is the spring of truth, the other +is the fountain of lies.'</p> + +<p>'You are wise and full of years,' said the Bedouin, +'and I understand your caution, for I also am not +very young. But here we must speak plainly, for the +time is short in which to act. A sand-storm has +darkened the eyes of the men of the desert and they +are saying that Khaled is a Shiyah, a Persian and a +robber, and that he must be overthrown and a man of +our own people made king in his stead.'</p> + +<p>'I have indeed heard such a rumour.'</p> + +<p>'It is more than a rumour. The tribes are even +now assembling towards Riad, and before many days +are past the end will come. Abdullah is the chief +mover in this. But with your help, my brother, we +will make his plotting empty and his scheming fruitless +as a twig of ghada stuck into the sand, which will +neither strike root nor bear leaves.'</p> + +<p>When the Sheikh of the beggars heard that he was +expected to give help in frustrating Abdullah's plans +he was troubled and much astonished.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Shall the blind sheep go out and fight the lion?' +he inquired tremulously.</p> + +<p>'Even so,' replied the Bedouin unmoved, 'and, +moreover, without danger to himself. Hear me first. +Abdullah and his tribe will encamp in the low hills, in +a few days, as usual, but somewhat earlier than in +other years, and a great number of other Bedouins will +be in the neighbouring valleys at the same time. +Then Abdullah will come into the city openly and go +to his house with his wife and slaves, and during +several days he will receive the visits of his friends and +return them, and go to the palace and salute Khaled, +as though nothing were about to happen. But in the +meantime he will make everything ready, for it is his +intention to go into the palace at night, disguised in +a woman's garment, with his wife, and they will slay +Khaled in his sleep, and bind Zehowah, and distribute +much treasure among the guards and slaves, and before +morning the city will be full of Bedouins all ready to +proclaim Abdullah Sultan. And you alone can prevent +all this.'</p> + +<p>But the blind man laughed in his beard.</p> + +<p>'This is a good jest!' he cried. 'You have sought +out a valiant warrior to stand between the Sultan and +death! I am blind and old, and a beggar, and you +would have me stand in the path of Abdullah and a +thousand armed men. They would certainly laugh, as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span> +I do. Let me take with me a few lepers and the +Egyptian jackass without legs, who has flown among +us lately like a locust out of the clear air. Verily, +their strength shall avail against the lances of the desert.'</p> + +<p>'This is no jest, my brother,' answered the Bedouin, +gravely. 'Neither I, nor a hundred armed horsemen +with me could do what you will do unhurt. But I +will save Khaled. For in the battle of the pass before +we came to Haïl last summer when I had an arrow +in my right arm and a spear thrust in my side, certain +dogs of Shammars encompassed me, and darkness was +already descending upon my eyes when Khaled rode +in like a whirlwind of scythes, and sent four of them to +hell, where they are now drinking molten brass like +thirsty camels. Then I swore by Allah that I would +defend him in the hour of need.'</p> + +<p>'Why do you not then lie in wait for Abdullah +yourself and slay him as he passes you in the dark?'</p> + +<p>'Is he not the sheikh of my tribe? How then can +I lay a hand on him? But I have thought of this +during many nights in my tent, and you alone can do +what is needed.'</p> + +<p>'Surely this is folly,' said the Sheikh of the beggars. +'You have met a hot wind in the desert and your mind +is unsettled by it. I pray you come with me into the +city to my dwelling, and take some refreshment, or at +least let me send to the well for a drink of water.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span></p> + +<p>'My head is cool and I am not thirsty, nor is the +hot wind blowing at this time of year. Hear me. I +will tell you how to save Khaled from destruction, and +you shall receive more gold than you have dreamed of, +and a house, and rich garments, and a young wife of a +good family to comfort your old age. For the deed is +easy and safe, but the reward will be great, and you +alone can do the one and earn the other.'</p> + +<p>'I perceive,' said the blind man, 'that you are +indeed in earnest, but I cannot understand what I can +do. We know that Khaled is forewarned, for it is +not many days since he summoned the chief men in +Riad, with the Kadi, to the palace, and refused to tell +them the name of his father, but said that if they +attacked him he would kill as many of them as he +could.'</p> + +<p>'I did not know this,' answered the Bedouin. +'But the knowledge does not change my plan. Now +hear me. You are the Sheikh of all the beggars in +Riad—may Allah send you long life and much gain—they +are an army and you are a captain. Moreover +the beggars are doubtless attached to Khaled by his +generosity, and all of you say in your hearts that +under Abdullah there may be more sticks and less +barley for you.'</p> + +<p>'This is true. But then, my brother, it is otherwise +with you, for you are of Abdullah's tribe and will<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span> +have honour and riches if he is made Sultan. How +then is my advantage also yours?'</p> + +<p>'And did not this Abdullah in the first place +divorce with ignominy his second wife, who is my +kinswoman, being the daughter of my father's sister? +And has he restored the dowry as the law commands? +Truly his new wife is even now sitting upon my +cousin's carpet. And secondly Abdullah made himself +sheikh unjustly, for our sheikh should be Abdul +Kerim's son.'</p> + +<p>'Yet you accepted Abdullah and promised him +allegiance.'</p> + +<p>'Does the camel say to his driver: "I do not like +to carry a load of barley, I would rather bear a basket +of dates"? "Eat what you please in your tent, but +dress as other men," says the proverb. Hear me, for I +speak wisdom. Abdullah will come into the city and +go to his house, intending to prepare the way for evil. +And he will walk about the streets as usual, without +attendants, both because he knows that the people are +mostly with him, and also in order not to attract +notice. Now Abdullah is the spring from which all +this wickedness flows, he is the chief camel whom the +others follow, the coal in the ashes by which the fire +is kept alive, the head without which the body cannot +live. Dry up the spring, therefore, let the chief camel +fall into a pit suddenly, extinguish the coal, strike off<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span> +the head. Let them ask in the morning: "Where is +he?" And let him not be found anywhere. Then +the people will be amazed and will not know what to +do, having no leader. This is for you to do, and it +can easily be done.'</p> + +<p>'What folly is this?' asked the blind man, shaking +his head. 'And how can I do what you wish?'</p> + +<p>'It is very easy, for I know that you and your +companions are as one man, living together for the +common good. Go to the beggars therefore and tell +them what I have told you, and be not afraid, for +they will not betray you. And when Abdullah walks +about the city alone lie in wait for him, for you will +easily catch him in a narrow street, and two or three +score of you can run after him begging for alms, until +he is surrounded on all sides. Then fall upon him, +and bind him, and take him secretly to one of your +dwellings and keep him there, so that none find him, +until the storm is past. In this way you will save +Khaled and the kingdom, and when all is quiet you +can deliver him up to be a laughing-stock at the +palace and to all who believed in him. For there is +nothing to fear, and I, for my part, am sure that +Abdul Kerim's son will immediately be made sheikh +of our tribe so that Abdullah will not return to us.'</p> + +<p>'You are subtle, my brother,' said the Sheikh of +the beggars, smiling and stroking his beard. 'This is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span> +a good plan, being very simple, and Khaled will be +grateful to us, and honour us beggars exceedingly. +Said I not well that the jest was good? Surely it is +better than I had thought, and more profitable.'</p> + +<p>'I have thought of it long in the nights of winter, +both by the camp fire and in my tent and on the +march. But I have told no one, nor will tell any one +until all is done. But so soon as you have taken +Abdullah and hidden him, let me know of it. To this +end, when we are encamped outside the city I will +come every evening to prayers in the great mosque and +afterwards will wait for you near the door. As soon +as I know that Abdullah is out of finding I will spread +the report that he is lost, and before long all our tribe +will give up the search, being indeed glad to get rid +of him. And the rest is in the hand of Allah. I +have done what I can, you must now do your share.'</p> + +<p>'By Allah! You shall not complain of me,' +answered the blind man, 'nor of my people, for the +jest is surpassingly good, and shall be well carried +out.'</p> + +<p>'I will therefore go into the city, where I have +business,' said the Bedouin. 'For I gave a reason for +coming alone to Riad, and must needs show myself +there to those who know me.'</p> + +<p>So the Bedouin filled the blind beggar's sack with +barley and dates from his own supply and embraced<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span> +him and went into the city, but the Sheikh of the +beggars remained sitting in the same place for some +time, at a distance from the rest, in an attitude of +inward contemplation, though he was in reality listening +to what the hunchback was telling the new cripple +from Egypt. The Sheikh's ears were sharper than those +of other men and he heard very clearly what was said.</p> + +<p>'This Bedouin,' said the hunchback, 'is a near +relation of our Sheikh, and holds him in great veneration, +coming frequently to see him even from a considerable +distance, and always bringing him a present +of food. And you may see by his mare and by his +weapons that he is a person of consideration in his +tribe. For our Sheikh is not a negro, nor the son of a +Syrian camel-driver, but an Arab of the best blood in +the desert, and wise enough to sit in the council in the +Sultan's palace. You, who are but lately arrived, being +transported into our midst by the mercy of Allah, +must learn all these things, and you will also find out +that our Sheikh has eyes in his ears, and in his fingers +and in his staff, though he is counted blind, and you +cannot deceive him easily as you might suppose.'</p> + +<p>The Sheikh of the beggars was pleased when he +heard this and listened attentively to hear the answer +made by the Egyptian, whom he did not yet trust +because he was a newcomer and a stranger.</p> + +<p>'Truly,' replied the cripple, 'Allah has been merciful<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span> +and compassionate to me, for he has brought me +into the society of the wise and the good, which is +better than much feasting in the company of the +ignorant and the ill-mannered. And as for the Sheikh, +he is evidently a very holy man, to whom eyes are not +in any way necessary, his inward sight being constantly +fixed upon heavenly things.'</p> + +<p>This answer did not altogether please the blind man, +for it savoured somewhat of flattery. But the other +beggars approved of the speech, deeming that it showed +a submissive spirit, and readiness to obey and respect +their chief.</p> + +<p>'O you of Egypt!' cried the Sheikh, calling to him. +'Come here and sit beside me, for I have heard what +you said and desire your company.'</p> + +<p>The cripple immediately began to crawl along by +the wall, dragging himself upon his hands and body, +for he had no legs.</p> + +<p>'He is obedient,' thought the blind man, 'though it +costs him much labour to move.'</p> + +<p>When the man was beside him, the Sheikh took an +onion and a date from his wallet and set them down +upon the ground.</p> + +<p>'Eat,' he said, 'and give thanks.'</p> + +<p>The cripple thanked him and taking the food, began +to eat the onion.</p> + +<p>'You have taken the onion in your right hand and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span> +the date in your left,' said the Sheikh. 'And you are +eating the onion first.'</p> + +<p>'This is true,' answered the Egyptian. 'I see that +my lord has indeed eyes in his fingers.'</p> + +<p>'I have,' said the Sheikh. 'But that is not all, for +this is an allegory. All men like to eat the onion first +and the date afterwards, for though the onion be ever +so sweet and tender, its taste is bitter when a man has +eaten sugar-dates before it. But you have begun by +giving us the mellow fruit of flattery, and when you +give us the wholesome vegetable of truth it will be too +sharp for our palates. Ponder this in your heart, chew +it as the camel does her cud, and the well-digested +food of wisdom shall nourish your understanding.'</p> + +<p>The cripple listened in astonishment at the depth +of the Sheikh's thought, and he would have spoken out +his admiration, but it is not possible to eat an onion +and to be eloquent at the same time. The blind man +knew this and continued to give him instruction.</p> + +<p>'The onion has saved you,' he said, 'for your +mouth being full you could say nothing flattering, +and now you will think before you speak. Consider +how I have treated you. Have I at once rendered +thanks to Allah for sending into our midst a young +man whose gifts of eloquence are at least equal to +those of the Kadi himself? I have said nothing so +foolish. I have called you an ass of Egypt and otherwise<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span> +rebuked you, for the good of your understanding, +though I begin to think that you are indeed a very +estimable young man, and it is possible that your wit +may ripen in our society. But now I perceive by my +hearing that you are eating the date. I pray you now, +eat another onion after it.'</p> + +<p>'I cannot,' answered the cripple, 'for my lips are +puckered at the thought of it.'</p> + +<p>'Neither is truth sweet after flattery,' said the +Sheikh, who then began to eat the other onion himself.</p> + +<p>'I will endeavour to profit by your precepts, my +lord,' replied the Egyptian.</p> + +<p>'Allah will then certainly enlighten you, my son. +Remember also another thing. We are ourselves here +a community, distinct from the citizens of Riad, and +what we do, we do for the common good. Remember +therefore to share what you receive with the rest, as +they will share what they have with you, and take +part with them in whatsoever is done by common consent. +In this way it will be well with you and you +shall grow fat; but if you are against us you will find +evil in every man's hand, for since it has pleased Allah +to give you no legs, you cannot possibly run away.'</p> + +<p>Having said this much the Sheikh of the beggars +was silent. But afterwards on the same day he +gathered about him the strongest of his companions, +being mostly men who had the use of both arms<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span> +and both legs, though some of them were lepers +and some had but one eye, and some were deaf and +dumb, according to the affliction which it had pleased +Allah to send upon each. These were the most trusty +and faithful of his people, and to them he communicated +openly what the Bedouin had proposed to him +in secret. All of them approved the plan, for they +greatly feared the overthrow of Khaled.</p> + +<p>'But,' said one, 'we cannot keep this Abdullah for +ever, and we can surely not kill him, for we should +bring upon ourselves a grievous punishment.'</p> + +<p>'Allah forbid that we should shed blood,' replied +the Sheikh. 'But when Abdul Kerim's son is made +Sheikh of the tribe, Abdullah will probably not wish +to go back to his people. Moreover it shall be for +Khaled to judge what shall be done to the man, and +he will probably cut off his head. But in the meantime +it is necessary to choose amongst us spies, two +for each gate of the city, to the number of twenty-two +men, to watch for Abdullah. For we do not know +when he will come, and of the two spies who see him +enter, both must follow him and see whither he goes, +and then the one will immediately inform all the rest +while the other waits for him. From the time he enters +the city he will not be able to go anywhere without +our knowledge, and we shall certainly catch him one +day towards dusk in some narrow street of the city.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span></p> + +<p>The beggars saw that this plan was wise and +safe for themselves, and they did as the Sheikh advised, +posting men at all the gates to wait for Abdullah. +He was, indeed, not far distant, and before many days +he rode into the city towards evening, attended by a +few slaves and two Bedouins, his wife Almasta riding +in the midst of them upon a camel. His face was +not hidden and the two beggars who were watching +recognised him immediately. They both followed him, +until he entered his own house, and then the one sat +down in the street to watch until he should come out, +asking alms of those who accompanied him, until they +also went in, with the beasts. But the other made +haste to find the Sheikh and to inform him that +Abdullah had come and was now in his own dwelling.</p> + +<p>'It is well,' said the blind man. 'The cat is now +asleep, and dreams of mice, but he shall wake in the +midst of dogs. Abdullah will not leave his house to-night, +for it is late, and though he is not afraid in the +daytime, he will not go out much at night, lest a +secret messenger from Khaled, bearing evil in his +hand, should meet him by the way. But to-morrow +before dawn, some of us will wait in the neighbourhood +of his house, and two or three score of others +feigning to be all blind, as I am, must always be near +at hand, watching us. We will then begin to importune +him for alms, flattering him with fine language, as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span> +though we knew his plans. And this we will do continually, +when he is abroad, until one day to escape +from us he will turn quickly into a narrow street, supposing +that we cannot see him. For he will not wish +to be pursued by our cries in the bazar lest he be +obliged for shame to give something to each. Then +those who can see will open their eyes and we will +catch him in the lane, and bind rags over his head +so that he cannot cry out, and lead him away to my +dwelling by the Yemamah gate. And if any meet +us by the way and inquire whom we are taking with +us, we will say that he is one of ourselves, who is +an epileptic and has fallen down in a fit, and that we +are taking him to the farrier's by the gate, to be +burned with red-hot irons for his recovery, as the +physicians recommend in such cases. Surely we have +now foreseen most things, but if we have forgotten +anything, Allah will doubtless provide.'</p> + +<p>All the beggars in council approved this plan, for +they saw that it could be easily carried out, if they +could only catch Abdullah in a lonely street at the +hour of prayer when few persons are passing.</p> + +<p>But Abdullah himself was ignorant of the evil +in store for him, and feared nothing, having been +secretly informed that most of the better sort of people +were ready to support him if he would strike the +blow; for they suspected Khaled of being a traitor,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span> +especially since he had last addressed the chief men +and refused to tell the name of his father. Abdullah +therefore came and went openly in the city.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, however, Khaled was informed of +his presence and was warned of the danger. The aged +Kadi came secretly by night to the palace and desired +to be received by the Sultan in order to communicate +to him news of great importance, as he said. Khaled +immediately received him, and the Kadi proceeded to +give a full account of Abdullah's designs; but the +Sultan expressed no astonishment.</p> + +<p>'Let him do what he will,' he answered, 'for I care +little and, after all, what must be will be.'</p> + +<p>'But I beseech you to consider,' said the Kadi, +'that by acting promptly you could easily quell this +revolution, in which I, by Allah, have no part and +will have none. For though many persons may just +now desire your overthrow, because they expect to get +a share of the treasure in the confusion, yet few are +disposed to accept such a man as Abdullah ibn Mohammed +el Herir in your place. Even his own tribe +are not all faithful to him, and I am credibly informed +that many look upon him as an intruder, and would +prefer the son of Abdul Kerim for sheikh, as would +be just, if the rights of birth were considered. And +it would be an easy matter to remove this Abdullah. +I implore you to think of the matter.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Would this not be a murder?' asked Khaled, +looking curiously at the venerable preacher.</p> + +<p>'Allah is merciful and forgiving,' replied the old +man, looking down and stroking his beard. 'And +moreover, if you suffer Abdullah to go about a few +days longer he will certainly destroy you, whereas it is +an easy matter to give him a cup of such good drink +as will save him from thirst ever afterwards, and you +would obtain quiet and the kingdom would be at +peace.'</p> + +<p>'They shall not find me sleeping,' said Khaled, 'and +so that I may only slay a score of them first, I care +not how soon I perish.'</p> + +<p>'This is indeed a new kind of madness!' exclaimed +the Kadi. 'I cannot understand it. But I have +done what I could, and I can do nothing more.'</p> + +<p>'Nor is there anything more to be done,' said +Khaled. 'But I thank you, for it is clear that you +have spoken from a good intention.'</p> + +<p>So the Kadi went away again, and Khaled returned +to Zehowah, caring not at all whether he lived +or died. But Zehowah began to watch him narrowly.</p> + +<p>'If this man were a Persian, an enemy and a +traitor,' she thought, 'he would now begin to take +measures for his own safety, seeing that he is threatened +on every side. Yet he does not lift a hand to +defend himself. This can proceed only from one of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span> +two causes. Either he is a Jinn, as he has told me, +and they cannot kill him, and so he does not fear +them; or else he desires death, out of a sort of madness +which has grown up in him through this love of +which he is always speaking.'</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI</h3> + + +<p>In these days many of the Bedouin tribes came near +the city and encamped in great numbers within half +a day's journey and less. Abdullah was exceedingly +busy with his preparations, and spent much time in +talking with other sheikhs, hardly making any concealment +of his movements or plans. For by this +time it seemed clear to him that the greater part of +the people were with him, and every one spoke of +the coming overthrow of Khaled as an open matter. +Khaled himself, too, was reported to be in fear of his +life, and he was no longer seen in the streets as +formerly, nor in the courts of the palace, nor even +every day in the hall, but remained shut up in the +harem, and none saw him except the women and a +few slaves. Men said aloud that he was in great fear +and distress, and as this story gained credence, so +Abdullah's importance increased, since it was he who +had brought such terror upon Khaled. All this was +open talk in the bazar, but Abdullah was himself +somewhat suspicious, supposing that Khaled must<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span> +have a plan in reserve for defending his possession +of the throne. Abdullah, however, kept secret the +manner in which he intended to enter the palace, +though he promised his adherents to open to them the +gates of the castle, and the doors of the treasure +chambers on a certain day, which he named, at the +time of the first call to prayer in the morning, warning +all those who were with him to come together in the +great square before that hour in order to be ready to +help him, if necessary, and to overwhelm the guards +of the palace if they should make any resistance. +But he did not know that the man of his tribe who +was kinsman to the chief of the beggars had overheard +his talk with his wife.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the beggars seemed to be multiplied +exceedingly in Riad, for whenever Abdullah went out +of his house they came upon him, sometimes by twos +and threes and sometimes in scores, pressing close to +him and begging alms. They also cried out a great +deal, praising his generosity and praying for blessings +upon him.</p> + +<p>'Behold the sheikh of sheikhs!' they exclaimed. +'He bears gold in his right hand and silver in his left. +Yallah! Send him a long life and prosperity, for he +loves the poor and his name is the Alms-giver. He +is not El Herir but Er Rahman and his heart over-flows +with mercy as his purse does with small coins.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span> +Come, O brothers, and taste of his charity, which is a +perpetual spring of good water beside a palm tree full +of sugar-dates! Ya Abdullah, Servant of Allah, we +love you! You are our father and mother. Your +kefiyeh is the banner which goes before our pilgrimage. +Come, O brothers, and taste of his charity.'</p> + +<p>Abdullah was not dissatisfied with these words, and +the beggars said much more to the same effect, which +he regarded as signs of his popularity, so that he +opened his purse from time to time and threw handfuls +of money into the crowd, not counting the cost +since he expected to be master of all the treasure +in Riad within a few days. But the beggars were +disappointed, for they had hoped that he would turn +out to be avaricious, and endeavour to elude them by +walking through narrow and lonely streets, where they +might catch him. So they pressed more and more +upon him every day, trying to exhaust his patience +and his charity. In this however they failed, not +understanding that the vanity of such a man is inexhaustible +and knows no price. Abdullah, too, chose +rather to be abroad during the daytime than in the +evening or the early morning, for he desired to be +seen by the multitude and spoken of as he went +through the market-place. Yet on the last evening of +all he fell into the hands of the Sheikh of the beggars, +and evil befell him.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span></p> + +<p>The hour of prayer was passed and it was almost +the time when lights are extinguished. Then Abdullah +took his sword under his aba, and also a good knife, +which he had proved in battle, and which in his hand +would pierce a coat of mail as though it were silk. +Almasta, his wife, also made a bundle of woman's +clothing and carried it in her arms. For they intended +to go to a lonely place by the city wall, that +Abdullah might there put on female garments, before +entering the palace. He feared, indeed, lest if it were +afterwards known by what disguise he had accomplished +his purpose, he might receive some name in +derision, from which he should never escape so long +as he lived. Yet he had no choice but to dress as +a woman, since he could not otherwise by any means +have gone into the harem.</p> + +<p>As he came out of his house, accompanied only by +Almasta he was seen at once by the two beggars who +were always on the watch. And then, wishing to warn +their companions, of whom many were lying asleep +upon doorsteps in the same street and in others close +by, these two made haste to get up, pretending to be +lame and making a great clatter with their staves, as +they limped after Abdullah. Then he, who loved to +exercise charity in the market-place, but not in the +dark where none could applaud him, made a pretence +of not seeing the poor men, and went swiftly on with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span> +Almasta running by his side. But as he walked fast, +the two beggars although apparently lame increased +their speed with his, and their clatter also.</p> + +<p>'Does a sound man need a horse to escape from +cripples?' asked Abdullah. And he turned quickly +into a narrow lane.</p> + +<p>'It will be wiser to scatter a few coins to them,' +said Almasta. 'They will then stop and search for +them in the dark. For these men are very importunate +and will certainly hinder us.'</p> + +<p>But Abdullah was confident in his legs as a strong +man and only walked the faster, so that Almasta could +with great difficulty keep beside him. Then they +heard the beggars running after them in the dark and +calling upon them.</p> + +<p>'O Abdullah!' they cried. 'The light of your +charitable countenance goes before us like a lantern, +and illuminates the whole street! Be merciful and +give us a small coin, and Allah will reward you!'</p> + +<p>Then Abdullah stopped in the darkest part of the +narrow lane, seeing that they had recognised him, and +conceiving that it would be a reproach for a sheikh of +pure blood to run from beggars; and he feared also that +it would be remembered against him on the morrow. +He therefore made a pretence of being diverted, and +laughed.</p> + +<p>'Surely,' he said, 'the lame men of Riad could<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span> +outrun in a race the sound men of any other city. +And, by Allah, I have little money with me, for I was +going to a friend's house to receive a sum due to me for +certain mares; yet I will give you what I have, and I +pray you, go in peace.'</p> + +<p>Thereupon he sought in his wallet for something to +give them, and while he was seeking they began to +praise him after their manner.</p> + +<p>'See this Abdullah!' they said. 'He is the father +of the poor and distressed, and is ever ready to divide +all he has with us. Yallah! Bless him exceedingly! +Yallah! Increase his family!'</p> + +<p>But when Abdullah had found the money and was +putting it into their hands, he was suddenly aware that +instead of two beggars there were now ten or more, and +these again multiplied in an extraordinary manner, so +that he felt himself hemmed in on every side in a close +press.</p> + +<p>'O Allah!' he exclaimed. 'Thou art witness that +unless these small coins are multiplied a hundredfold, +as the basket of dates by the Prophet at the trench +before Medina, I shall have nothing to give these +worthy persons.'</p> + +<p>By this time the blind Sheikh of the beggars was +present, and he pushed forward, pretending to rebuke +his companions.</p> + +<p>'O you greedy ones!' he cried. 'How often have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span> +I told you not to be so importunate? Yet you crowd +upon him like wasps upon a date, presuming upon the +goodness of his heart, and when there is no more room +you crowd upon each other. Forgive them, O Abdullah!' +he said, addressing him directly, 'for they +have the appetites of jackals together with the understanding +of little children. They would thrust into +the dish a hand as small as a crow's foot and withdraw +it looking as big as a camel's hoof. Their +manners are also——'</p> + +<p>'My friend,' said Abdullah, 'I have given what I +can. Let me therefore pass on, for my business is of +importance, yet the throng is so great that I cannot +move a step. To-morrow I will distribute much alms +to you all.'</p> + +<p>'The radiance of your merciful countenance is +enough for us,' replied the Sheikh of the beggars, +'and even I who am blind am comforted by its +rays as by those of the sun in spring, and my +hunger is appeased by the honey of your incomparable +eloquence——'</p> + +<p>'My friend,' said Abdullah, interrupting him again, +'I pray you to let me go forward now, for I have a +very important matter in hand, though it is with +difficulty that I tear myself away from your society +and I would willingly listen much longer to the words +of the wise.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span></p> + +<p>Then the blind man turned to the other beggars, +and his hearing told him that by this time there were +at least threescore in the street.</p> + +<p>'Come, my brothers!' he cried. 'Let us accompany +our benefactor to the house of his friend, and +afterwards we will wait for him and see that he +reaches his own dwelling in safety. Surely it is not +fitting that a sheikh of such great consideration +should go about the streets at night without so much +as an attendant carrying a lantern. Let us go with +him.'</p> + +<p>Now these last words were the signal agreed upon, +and even as Abdullah began to protest that he desired +no such honourable escort as the beggars offered him, +one came from behind and suddenly drew a thick +barley-sack over his head, so that his voice was heard +no more, and he was dragged down by the throat, +while the one-eyed hunchback caught him by the legs +and bound his feet and four others laid hold of his +hands and tied them firmly behind him. Nor had +Almasta time to utter a single cry before she was +bound hand and foot with her head in a sack, like her +husband. Then at a signal the beggars took up the +two as though they had been bales packed ready for a +camel's back, and carried them away swiftly into the +darkness, towards the eastern gate where the blind +man lived in a ruined house together with three or<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span> +four of his most trusted companions. He also sent a +messenger to his relation, the Bedouin, as had been +agreed. It was already quite dark in the streets and +the few persons who met the beggars did not see what +they were carrying, nor ask questions of them, merely +supposing that they had lingered long in the public +square after evening prayers and were now returning +in a body to their own quarter.</p> + +<p>The blind man's house was built of three rooms and +a wall, standing in a square around a small court. But +only one of the rooms had a roof of its own, though +there was a sort of cellar under the floor of one of the +others which served at once as a lodging for beggars in +winter, as a storehouse for food when there was any in +supply and as a place of deposit for the ancient iron +chest in which the common fund of money was kept. +To this vault the Sheikh of the beggars made his companions +bring the two prisoners, and having set them +on the floor, side by side, he proceeded to hold a +council, in which the captives themselves had no part, +since their heads were tied up in dusty barley-sacks +and they could not speak so as to be heard.</p> + +<p>'O my brothers!' said the blind man. 'Allah has +delivered the enemies of the kingdom into our hand, +and it is necessary to decide what we will do +with them. Let the oldest and the wisest give their +opinions first, and after them the others, even to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span> +youngest, and last of all I will speak, and let us +see whether we can agree.'</p> + +<p>'Let us kill the man and bury him, and then cast +lots among us for the woman,' said one.</p> + +<p>'No,' said the next, a man who had twice made the +pilgrimage, and was much respected, 'we cannot do +this, for the man is a true believer, and evil will befall +us if we shed his blood. Let us rather keep him here, +and purify his hide every day with our staves, until +Khaled is in no more danger, and then we will take +him to the palace and deliver him up.'</p> + +<p>'It is to be feared,' said the Sheikh of the beggars, +'that the man might chance to die of this sort of purification, +though indeed it be very wholesome for him, +and I am not altogether against it.'</p> + +<p>'Let us make him our slave,' said a third who had +himself been the slave of a poor man who had died +without heirs. 'The fellow is strong. Let us buy +millstones and make him grind barley for us in this +cellar. In this way he will not eat our food for +nothing.'</p> + +<p>After this many others gave advice of the same +kind. But while they were talking there was a great +clattering and noise upon the stone steps which led +down into the cellar, and a man fell over the last step +and rolled over and over into the very midst of the +council, railing and lamenting.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span></p> + +<p>'It is that ass of Egypt,' said the Sheikh of the +beggars. 'I know him by the clattering of the +wooden hoofs he wears on his hands, and also by his +braying. Let him also give his opinion when he is +recovered from his fall.'</p> + +<p>'It is strange and marvellous,' said one, 'that he +who has no legs should suffer so many falls, being, by +the will of Allah, always upon the earth. For when +we first saw him we found him fainting upon the +ground, having fallen from the wall of a garden, +though no man could tell how he had climbed upon +it.'</p> + +<p>'I had been transported to the top of the wall as +in a dream,' replied the cripple, 'for there were dates +in that garden. But having eaten too greedily of +them I fell asleep on the top and I dreamed that my +body was torn by hyænas; and waking suddenly I fell +down. For the dates were yet green.'</p> + +<p>'This may or may not be true,' said the blind man. +'For you are an Egyptian. Let us, however, hear +what you have to advise in the matter of Abdullah +and his wife, whom we have taken prisoners.'</p> + +<p>'I fear that you mock me, O my lord,' answered +the man. 'But if I am mocked, I will advise that +this Abdullah be also made a sport of, for us first, and +for the people of Riad afterwards.'</p> + +<p>'Tell us how this may be done, for a good jest is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span> +better than salt for roasting, and the sheep lie here +bound before us.'</p> + +<p>'Take this man, then,' said the cripple, 'and +uncover his face, and hold him fast. Then let one of +us get the razor and shave off all his beard and his +eyebrows, and the hair of his head even to the nape +of his neck. Then if he came suddenly before her +who bore him and cried, "Mother," she would cover +her face and answer, "Begone, thou ostrich's egg!" +For she would not know him. And to-morrow we +will take his excellent clothes from him and put them +upon our Sheikh. But we will dress Abdullah in +rags such as would not serve to wipe the mud from a +slave's shoes in the time of the subsiding waters, and +we will tie his hands under his arm-pits and put a +halter over his head and lead him about the city. +Then he will cry out against us to the people, saying +that he is Abdullah, but we will also cry out in +answer: "See this madman, who believes himself to +be a sheikh of Bedouins though Allah has given him +no beard! O people of Riad, you may know that the +spring is come, by the braying of this ass."'</p> + +<p>'Yet I see now that there may be wisdom in brayings,' +said the Sheikh of the beggars, 'though Balaam ibn +Beor shut his ears against it, and was punished for his +cursing so that his tongue hung down to his breast, +all his days, like that of a thirsty dog. This is good<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span> +counsel, for in this way we shall not shed the man's +blood, nor render ourselves guilty of his death; but I +think we shall earn a great reward from Khaled, and +his kingdom will be saved in laughter.'</p> + +<p>During all this time Abdullah had not moved, +knowing that he was in the power of many enemies +and beyond all reach of help, but when he heard the +decision of the Sheikh of the beggars he was filled with +shame and rolled himself from side to side upon the +floor, as though trying to escape from the bonds that +held him. Almasta, for her part, lay quietly where +they had put her, for she saw that all chance of +success was gone and was pondering how she might +take advantage of what happened, to save herself.</p> + +<p>Then the beggars laid hold of Abdullah and held +him, while others took the sack from his head. He +was indeed half smothered with dust, so that at first +he could not speak aloud, but coughed and sneezed +like a dog that has thrust its nose into a dust-heap to +find the bone which is hidden underneath. But presently +he recovered his breath and began to rail at +them and curse them. To this they paid no attention, +but brought the oil lamp near him, and one began to +rub soap upon his face and head while another got +the razor with which the beggars shaved their heads +and began to whet it upon his leathern girdle.</p> + +<p>'Do not waste the precious stones of your eloquence<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span> +upon a barber,' said the Sheikh of the beggars, 'but +reserve your breath and the rich treasures of your +speech until you are brought as a plucked bird before +the people of Riad. Moreover we only wish to shave +off your beard, but if you are restless some of your +hide will certainly be removed also, whereby you will +be hurt and it will be still harder for your friends to +recognise you to-morrow. It is also useless to shout +and scream as though you were driving camels, for you +are in the cellar of my house which is at a good distance +from other habitations, on the borders of the +city.'</p> + +<p>So Abdullah saw that there was no escape, and +that his fate was about his neck, and he sat still as +they had placed him, while the one-eyed hunchback +shaved off his beard and the hair on his upper lip and +his eyebrows, and the lock at the back of his head.</p> + +<p>When this was done the blind man put out his +hand and felt Abdullah's face.</p> + +<p>'Surely,' he said, 'this is not a man's head, but +the round end of a walking-staff, rubbed smooth by +much use.'</p> + +<p>They also tied his hands under his arm-pits and +put upon him a ragged shirt with sleeves so that he +seemed to have lost both arms at the elbow.</p> + +<p>'This is very well done,' said the hunchback +turning his head from side to side in order to see<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span> +all with his one eye. 'But what shall we do with the +woman? Let us cast lots for her, and he who wins +her shall marry her, and we will hold the feast immediately, +for we have not yet supped and there is +some of the camel's meat which we received to-day at +the palace.'</p> + +<p>'O my brothers,' answered the Sheikh of the +beggars, 'let us do nothing unlawful in our haste. +For this woman is certainly one of Abdullah's wives, +as you may see by her clothes, and unless he divorces +her none of us can take her for ourselves, seeing that +she is the wife of a believer. Take the sack from her +head, however, and if she deafens us with her screaming +we can put it on again. But you must by no +means put her to shame by taking the veil from her +face, for she may be an honest wife, though her +husband be a dog. If she has done well, we shall +find it out, and no harm will have come to her; but +if she is a sharer in this fellow's plans, her punishment +will be grievous, since she will be the wife of +an outcast, having neither beard nor eyebrows and +rejected by all men.'</p> + +<p>Some of the beggars murmured at this, but most of +them praised their Sheikh's wisdom, and would indeed +have feared greatly to break the holy law, being chiefly +devout men who prayed daily in the mosque and +listened to the Khotbah on Friday. They therefore<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span> +placed Almasta in one corner of the cellar and Abdullah +in another, so that the two could not converse together, +and then they took out such food as they had and +began to eat their supper, laughing and talking over +the jest and anticipating the reward which awaited +them for saving Khaled.</p> + +<p>In the meanwhile the night was advancing and +many of Abdullah's friends left their houses secretly +and gathered in the neighbourhood of the palace to +wait for the first signal from within. By threes and +by twos and singly they came out of their dwellings, +looking to the right and left to see whether they were +not the first, as men do who are not sure of being in +the right. All had their swords with them, and some +their bows also, and some few carried their spears, and +they made no secret of their bearing weapons; but +under each man's aba was concealed the largest barley-sack +he could find in his house, and concerning this +no one of the multitude said anything to his neighbour, +for each hoped to get a greater share than the +others of the gold and precious stones from the fabulous +treasure stored in the palace. Then most of these +men sat down to wait, as vultures do before the camel +is quite dead. But not long after the middle of the +night they were joined by a great throng of Bedouins +from Abdullah's tribe. These had been admitted into +the city by the watchman according to the agreement,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span> +and passed up the great street from the Hasa gate, in +a close body, not speaking and making but little noise +with their feet as they walked; yet all of them together +could be heard from a distance, because they +were so many, and the sound was like the night wind +among the branches of dry palm trees. After them, +other Bedouins came in from camps both near and far, +some of them having made half a day's journey since +sunset; and they surrounded the palace on all sides, +and filled the great street, and the street which passes +by the mosque towards the Dereyiyah gate and all the +other approaches to the open square, sitting down +wherever there was room, or leaning against the closed +shops of the bazar, or standing up in a thick crowd +when they were too closely pressed to be at ease. +They talked together from time to time in low tones, +but when their voices rose above a whisper some man +in authority hushed them saying that the hour was +not yet come.</p> + +<p>'By this time Abdullah has slain Khaled,' said +some, 'and the daughter of the old Sultan is a +prisoner.'</p> + +<p>'And by this time,' said others, 'Abdullah is surely +unlocking the treasure chamber and filling a barley-sack +with pearls and rubies. It is certain that he +who slays the lion deserves his bride, but we hope +that something will be left for us.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Hush!' said the voice of one moving in the darkness. +'Be patient. It is not yet time.'</p> + +<p>Then, for a space, a deep silence fell on the speakers +and they crouched in their places watching the high +black walls of the palace and marking the motion of +the stars by the highest point of the tower. Before +long whispered words were heard again.</p> + +<p>'It would have been more just if Abdullah had +opened the gate to us as soon as he had slain Khaled, +for then we could have seen what he took. But now, +who shall tell us what share of the riches he is hiding +away in the more secret vaults?'</p> + +<p>'This is true,' answered others. 'And besides, what +need have we of Abdullah to help us into the palace? +Surely we could have broken down the gates and slain +the guards and Khaled himself without Abdullah's +help. Yet we, for our part, would not shed the blood +of a man who has always dealt very generously with +us, nor do we believe the story of the camels laden +secretly in Haïl. However, what is ordained will take +place, and we shall undoubtedly receive plentiful gold +merely for sitting here to watch the stars through the +night.'</p> + +<p>'The story of the camels is not true,' said a certain +man, speaking alone. 'For I was of the drivers +sent with them, and being hungry, we opened one of +the bales on the way. By Allah! There was nothing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span> +but wheat in it, and it was white and good; but +there was nothing else, not so much as a few small +coins——'</p> + +<p>Then there was the sound of a blow, and the man +who was speaking was struck on the mouth, so that +his speech was interrupted.</p> + +<p>'Peace and be silent!' said a voice. 'They who +speak lies will receive no share with the rest when the +time comes.'</p> + +<p>But the man who had been struck was the strongest +of all his tribe, though he who had struck him +did not know it. And the man caught his assailant +by the waist in the dark, and wrestled with him +violently, being very angry, and broke his forearm and +his collar-bone and several of his ribs, and when he +had done with him, he threw him over his shoulder so +that he fell fainting and moaning three paces away.</p> + +<p>'O you who strike honest men on the mouth in +the dark, you have been over-rash!' he cried. 'Go +home and hide yourself lest I recognise you and break +such bones as you have still whole!'</p> + +<p>'This is well done,' said one of the bystanders in a +loud voice. 'For the story of the camels laden secretly +with treasure is a lie. I also was with the drivers +and ate of the wheat. Nor do I believe that Khaled +is a robber and a Persian.'</p> + +<p>'We do not believe it!' cried a score of Bedouins<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span> +together. 'And if we have come here, it is to get our +share like other men, since they tell us that Khaled is +dead. But now we believe that Abdullah has shut +himself into the palace and means to keep all for himself, +and is cheating us.'</p> + +<p>These men were none of them of Abdullah's tribe, +but as the voices grew louder, Abdullah's kinsmen +came up, and endeavoured to quiet the growing tumult. +The crowd had parted a little and the strong man +stood alone in the midst.</p> + +<p>'We pray you to be patient,' said Abdullah's men, +'for the time is at hand and the false dawn has already +passed, though you have not seen it, so that before +long it will be day. Then the gates will be opened +and you shall all go in.'</p> + +<p>'We have no need of your sheikh to open gates for +us,' said the strong man, in a voice that could be heard +very far through the crowd. 'And moreover it will +be better for you not to strike any more of us, or, by +Allah, we will not only break your bones but shed +your blood.'</p> + +<p>At this there was a sullen cry and men sprang to +their feet and laid their hands upon their weapons. +But a youth who had come up with Abdullah's kinsmen, +though not one of them, bent very low over the +man who had been thrown down and then spoke out +with a loud and laughing voice.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Truly they say that crows lead people to the +carcases of dogs!' he said. 'This fellow is of the +family which murdered my father, upon whom may +Allah send peace! Nor will I exceed the bounds of +moderation and justice.'</p> + +<p>Thereupon the young man drew out his knife and +immediately killed his father's enemy as he lay upon +the ground, and then he withdrew quickly into the +dark crowd so that none knew him. But though there +was only the light of the stars and the multitude was +great, many had seen the deed and each man stood +closer by his neighbour and grasped his weapon to be +in readiness. The kinsmen of Abdullah saw that they +were separated from their own tribe and drew back, +warning the others to keep the peace and be silent, +lest they should be cut off from their share of the +spoil. But their voices trembled with fears for their +own safety, and they were answered by scornful shouts +and jeers.</p> + +<p>'The young man says well that you are crows,' +cried the angry men, 'for you wish to keep the carcase +for yourselves. Come and take it if you are able!'</p> + +<p>Now indeed the quarrel which had been begun by +the blow struck in the dark spread suddenly to great +dimensions, for the words spoken were caught up as +grains of sand by the wind and blown into all men's +ears. Many were ready enough to believe that Abdullah<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span> +cared only for enriching himself and his tribe, +and many more who had been persuaded to the enterprise +by the hope of gain turned again to their faith +in Khaled as the dream of gold disappeared from their +eyes. Yet Abdullah's tribe was numerous, and it was +easy to see that if the dissension grew into a strife of +arms the fight would be long and fierce on both sides.</p> + +<p>Then certain of those who were against Abdullah +raised the cry that he had slain Khaled and escaped +with the treasure by a secret passage leading under +the walls of the city, which passage was spoken of in +old tales, though no one knew where to find it. But +the multitude believed and pressed forward in a +strong body and began to beat against the iron-bound +gate of the palace with great stones and pieces of +wood. Abdullah's men came on fiercely to prevent +them, but were opposed by many, and as the wing of +night was lifted and the dawn drank the stars, the +wide square was filled with the clashing of arms and +the noise of a terrible tumult.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII</h3> + + +<p>At the time when the beggars were carrying away +Abdullah and his wife, Khaled was sitting in his +accustomed place, silent and heavy at heart, and +Zehowah played softly to him upon a barbat and sang +a sad song in a low voice. For she saw that gloominess +had overcome him and she feared to disturb his +mood, though she would gladly have made him smile +if she had been able.</p> + +<p>A black slave of Khaled's whom he had treated +with great kindness had secretly told him that there +was a plan to enter the palace with evil during that +night, for the fellow had spied upon those who knew +and had overheard what he now told his master. +He had also asked whether he should not warn the +guards of the palace, in order that a strict watch should +be kept, but Khaled had bidden him be silent.</p> + +<p>'Either the guards are conspiring with the rest,' +said Khaled, 'and will be the first to attack me, or +they are ignorant of the plan; and if so how can they +withstand so great a multitude? I will abide by my<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span> +own fate, and no man shall lose his life for my sake +unless he desires to do so.'</p> + +<p>But he privately put on a coat of mail under his +aba, and when he sat down in the harem to await +the end he would not let Zehowah take his sword, but +laid it upon his feet and sat upright against the wall, +looking towards the door.</p> + +<p>'Since I have no soul,' he said to himself, 'this is probably +the end of all things. But there is no reason why I +should not kill as many of these murderers as possible.'</p> + +<p>He was gloomy and desponding, however, since he +saw that his hour was at hand, and that Zehowah was +no nearer to loving him than before. He watched her +fingers as she played upon the instrument, and he +listened to the soft notes of her voice.</p> + +<p>'It is a strange thing,' he thought, 'and I believe +that she is not able to love, any more than my sword +upon my feet, which is good and true and beautiful, +and ever ready to my hand, but is itself cold, having +no feeling in it.'</p> + +<p>Still Zehowah sang and Khaled heard her song, +listening watchfully for a man's tread upon the +threshold and looking to see a man's face and the +light of steel in the shadow beyond the lamps.</p> + +<p>'The night is long,' he said at last, aloud.</p> + +<p>'It is not yet midnight,' Zehowah answered. 'But +you are tired. Will you not go to rest?'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span></p> + +<p>'I shall rest to-morrow,' said Khaled. 'To-night I +will sit here and look at you, if you will sing to me.'</p> + +<p>Zehowah gazed into his eyes, wondering a little at +his exceeding sadness. Then she bowed her head and +struck the strings of the instrument to a new measure +more melancholy than the last, and sang an old song +of many verses, with a weeping refrain.</p> + +<p>'Are you also heavy at heart to-night?' Khaled +asked, when he had listened to the end.</p> + +<p>'It is not easy to kindle a lamp when the rain is +falling heavily,' Zehowah said. 'Your sadness has +taken hold of me, like the chill of a fever. I cannot +laugh to-night.'</p> + +<p>'And yet you have a good cause, for they say +that to-night the earth is to be delivered of a great +malefactor, a certain Persian, whose name is perhaps +Hassan, a notorious robber.'</p> + +<p>Khaled turned away his head, smiling bitterly, for +he desired not to see the satisfaction which would +come into her face.</p> + +<p>'This is a poor jest,' she answered in a low voice, +and the barbat rolled from her knees to the carpet +beside her.</p> + +<p>'I mean no jesting, for I do not desire to disappoint +you, since you will naturally be glad to be freed +from me. But I am glad if you are willing to sing +to me, for this night is very long.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Do you think that I believe this of you?' asked +Zehowah, after some time.</p> + +<p>'You believed it yesterday, you believe it to-day, +and you will believe it to-morrow when you are free +to make choice of some other man—whom you will +doubtless love.'</p> + +<p>'Yet I know that it is not true,' she said suddenly.</p> + +<p>'It is too late,' Khaled answered. 'The more I +love you, the more I see how little faith you have in +me—and the less faith can I put in you. Will you sing +to me again?'</p> + +<p>'This is very cruel and bitter.' Zehowah sighed and +looked at him.</p> + +<p>'Will you sing to me again, Zehowah?' he repeated. +'I like your sad music.'</p> + +<p>Then she took up the barbat from the carpet, but +though she struck a chord she could not go on and +her hand lay idle upon the strings, and her voice was +still.</p> + +<p>'You are perhaps tired,' said Khaled after some +time. 'Then lay aside the instrument and sleep.' He +composed himself in his seat, his sword being ready +and his eyes towards the door.</p> + +<p>But Zehowah shook her head as though awaking +from a dream, her fingers ran swiftly over the strings +and gentle tones came from her lips. Khaled listened +thoughtfully to the song and the words soothed him,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span> +but before she had reached the end, she stopped +suddenly.</p> + +<p>'Why do you not finish it?' he asked.</p> + +<p>'If you have told me truth,' she answered, 'this is +no time for singing and music. But if not, why +should I labour to amuse you, as though I were a +slave? I will call one of the women who has a sweet +voice and a good memory. She will sing you a kasid +which will last till morning.'</p> + +<p>'You are wrong,' said Khaled. 'There is no reason +in what you say.'</p> + +<p>But he reflected upon her nature, while he spoke.</p> + +<p>'Surely,' he thought, 'there is nothing in the world +so contradictory as a woman. I ask of her a song and +she is silent. I bid her rest, supposing her to be +weary, and she sings to me. If I tell her that I hate +her she will perhaps answer that she loves me. Min +Allah! Let us see.'</p> + +<p>'You inspire hatred in me,' he said aloud, after a +few moments.</p> + +<p>At this Zehowah was very much astonished, and +she again let the barbat fall from her knees.</p> + +<p>'You wished me to believe that you loved me, and +this not long since,' she answered.</p> + +<p>'It may be so. I did not know you then.'</p> + +<p>He looked towards the door as though he would +say nothing further. Zehowah sighed, not understanding<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span> +him yet being wounded in that sensitive tissue of +the heart which divides the outer desert of pride from +the inner garden of love, belonging to neither but +separating the two as a veil. And when there is a +rent in that veil, pride looks on love and scoffs +bitterly, and love looks on pride and weeps tears of +fire.</p> + +<p>'I am sorry that you hate me,' she said, but the +words were bitter in her mouth as a draught from a +spring into which the enemy have cast wormwood, +that none may drink of it.</p> + +<p>'Allah is great!' thought Khaled. 'This is +already an advantage.'</p> + +<p>Then Zehowah took up the barbat and began to +sing a careless song not like any which Khaled had +ever heard. This is the song—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">'The fisherman of Oman tied the halter under his arms,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The sky was as blue as the sea in winter.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The fisherman dived into the deep waters<br /></span> +<span class="i0">As a ray of light shoots through a sapphire of price.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The sea was as blue as the sky, for it was winter.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Among the rocks below the water it was dark and cold<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Though the sky above was as blue as a fine sapphire.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The fisherman saw a rough shell lying there in the dark between two crabs,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">"In that shell there must be a large pearl," he said.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But when he would have taken it the crabs ran together and fastened upon his hand.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">His heart was bursting in his ribs for lack of breath<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And he thought of the sky above, as blue as the sea in winter.<br /></span><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[241]</a></span> +<span class="i0">So he pulled the halter and was taken half-fainting into the boat.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The crabs held his hand but he struck them off,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And his heart beat merrily as he breathed the wind<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Blowing over the sea as blue as the sky in winter.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">"There are no pearls in this ocean," he said to his companions,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">"But there are crabs if any one cares to dive."<br /></span> +<span class="i0">One of them saw the shell caught between the legs of the crabs,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He opened it and found a pearl of the value of a kingdom.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">"The pearl is mine, but you may eat the crabs," he said to the fisherman,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">"Since you say there are no pearls in this ocean,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Which is as blue as the sky in winter."<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Then the fisherman smote him and tried to take the pearl,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But as they strove it fell into the deep water and sank,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Where the sea was as blue as the sky in winter.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">"I will drown you with a heavy weight," said the fisherman, "for you have robbed me of my fortune."<br /></span> +<span class="i0">"I have not robbed you, O brother, for the pearl is again where you found it,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In the sea which is as blue as the sky in winter."<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Then the fisherman dived again many times in vain<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Till the drums of his ears were broken and his heart was dissolved for lack of breath.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But the pearl is still there, at the bottom of the sea,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And the sea is as blue as the sky in winter.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">This is the kasid of the fisherman of Oman<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Which Zehowah Bint ul Mahomed el Hamid<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Has made and sung for her lord, Khaled the Sultan.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">May Allah send him long life and many such hearts<br /></span> +<span class="i0">As the one which fell into the ocean<br /></span> +<span class="i0">When the sky was as blue as the sea in winter.'<br /></span> +</div></div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</a></span></p> + +<p>'This is a new song,' said Khaled, when she had +finished.</p> + +<p>'Is it? I made it many months ago,' Zehowah +answered. 'Does it please you?'</p> + +<p>'It is not very melodious, nor do I think there +is much truth in the matter of it. But I thank you, +for it has served to pass the time.'</p> + +<p>Zehowah laughed a little scornfully.</p> + +<p>'I daresay you would prefer the song of a Persian +nightingale,' she said. 'Nevertheless my song is full +of truth, though you cannot see it. There are many +who seek for things of great value and do not know +when they have found them because a crab has bitten +their hands.'</p> + +<p>'Verily,' thought Khaled, 'this is indeed the spirit +of contradiction.'</p> + +<p>But he was silent for a time, not wishing that she +should think him easily moved. In the meantime +Zehowah played softly upon the little instrument and +Khaled watched her, wondering whether she were not +playing upon the strings of his heart, for her own +pleasure, as skilfully as her fingers ran upon the chords +of the barbat. Many words rose to his lips then, and +he wished that he also had the science of music that +he might sing sweetly to her. Then he laughed aloud +at his own imagination, which was indeed that of a +foolish youth.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[243]</a></span></p> + +<p>'The lion roaring for a sweetmeat,' he thought, +'and the sword-hand aching to scratch little tunes +upon a lute!'</p> + +<p>Zehowah turned suddenly when he laughed, and +ceased from playing.</p> + +<p>'I am glad that you are merry,' she said. 'I like +laughter better than reproaches and prefer it to gloomy +forebodings of evil when none is at hand.'</p> + +<p>Khaled's face grew dark, and he looked again +towards the door.</p> + +<p>'If you will stay with me, you shall see that evil is +not far off,' he answered, for she had reminded him of +what he was expecting, and he knew that it was no +jesting matter. 'But you shall please yourself in this +as in all other matters, though it were better for you +to go now and shut yourself up in an inner room and +wait for the end. The night is advancing, and all +will soon be over.'</p> + +<p>'Hear me, Khaled,' said Zehowah, speaking earnestly. +'If you bid me go, I will go, or if you desire me to +stay, I will remain with you. But if you are indeed +in danger, as you say, let us call up the guards and the +watchmen who sleep in the palace, that they may stand +by you with their swords and help you to fight if there +is to be strife.'</p> + +<p>'I will have no treacherous fellows about me,' +Khaled answered, 'and there are none here whom I can<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[244]</a></span> +trust. My hour is coming and I will fight this fight +alone. But if you were such as I once hoped, I would +say: "Remain with me, so long as you are safe." +Now, since Allah has willed it thus, I say to you: +"Go and seek safety where you can find it." Go, +therefore, Zehowah, and leave me alone, for I need +no one beside me, and you least of all.'</p> + +<p>He turned away his head, lest she should see his +face, and with his hand made a gesture bidding her to +leave him. She rose from her seat softly and hung +the barbat upon the wall with the other musical +instruments, looking over her shoulder to see whether +he would call her back. But he neither moved nor +spoke, being resolved to venture all upon this trial, +for he knew that if she loved him even but a little, +she would not leave him alone in the extremity of +danger.</p> + +<p>Then she went towards the door of the room, turning +her head to look at him as she passed near him.</p> + +<p>'Farewell,' she said. But he did not answer nor +show that he heard her voice.</p> + +<p>As she lifted the curtain to go out, she lingered +and gazed at him. He sat motionless upon the carpet, +upright against the wall, his sword lying across his +feet, his hands hidden under his sleeves, looking +towards her indeed but not seeming to see her.</p> + +<p>'There can be no real danger,' she thought. 'Could<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[245]</a></span> +any man sit thus, expecting death, and refusing to let +any one stand by him to fight with him? Surely, he +is playing with me, and setting a trap for me. But +he shall not catch me.'</p> + +<p>She turned to go and the curtain was falling +behind her when the night wind from the open passage +brought a sound to her ears from a far distance. She +started and listened, as camels do when they hear the +first moving of the hot wind. There were no voices +in the noise, which was low and dull, like the breathing +of a great multitude and the soft moving of feet, +and altogether it was as the slow rising and falling +back of the sea upon the shores of Oman, when the +great summer storm is coming from the south-west.</p> + +<p>Zehowah stood still a moment and drank in every +murmur that reached her from without. Then her +face grew white and her lips trembled when she +thought of Khaled sitting alone on the other side of +the curtain, with his sword upon his feet, waiting for +the end. She lifted the hanging a little and looked +at him again. He saw her, but made no sign. Even +as she looked, the distant murmur grew louder and +she fancied that he moved his head as though he +heard it. Then she entered the room and came and +stood before him.</p> + +<p>'There is a great multitude in the square before +the palace,' she said.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[246]</a></span></p> + +<p>'I know it,' he answered, calmly looking up to her +face. 'It needed not that you should tell me.'</p> + +<p>'Will you not let me stay with you now?' asked +Zehowah.</p> + +<p>'Why should you stay here?' he asked with a +pretence of indifference. 'Of what use are you to +me? Take this sword. Can you strike with it? +Your wrist is feeble. Or take a bow from the +weapons on the wall. Can you draw the string? +Your strength is sufficient for the lute, and your skill +for scratching the strings of the barbat. Go and save +yourself. I am alone and every man's hand is against +me.'</p> + +<p>Zehowah stood still in the room and hesitated, +looking into his eyes for something which she all at +once desired with a hot thirst. At last she spoke in +an uncertain voice.</p> + +<p>'Yet you said not long since that if I were such as +you once hoped, you would bid me remain.'</p> + +<p>'I do not care,' he answered. 'Yet for your own +sake, I advise you to go away.'</p> + +<p>'For my own sake!' she repeated, trying to speak +scornfully, and turning to go a second time.</p> + +<p>But she did not reach the door. She stood still +before the weapons which hung upon the wall, and +paused a moment and then took a sword from its +place. Khaled watched her. She grasped the hilt as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[247]</a></span> +well as she could and swung the weapon in the air +once with all her might. Then she uttered a little +cry of pain, for she had twisted her wrist. The +sword fell to the floor.</p> + +<p>'He is right,' she said in a low tone, speaking +aloud to herself. 'I am weak and can be of no use +to him.'</p> + +<p>She went on once more towards the door, slowly, +her head bent down, then stopped and then looked +back again. She feared that she might see a smile on +his face, but his eyes were grave and calm. Then he +saw her turn and lean against the wall as though she +were suddenly weak. She hid her face, and there was +silence for a moment, and after that a low sound of +weeping filled the still room.</p> + +<p>'Why do you shed tears?' Khaled asked presently. +'There is no danger for you, I think. If you will go +and shut yourself in the inner rooms you will be safe.'</p> + +<p>She turned fiercely and their eyes met.</p> + +<p>'What do I care for myself?' she cried. 'Among +so many deaths there is surely one for me!'</p> + +<p>Even as she spoke Khaled felt a cool breath upon +his forehead, stirring the stillness. He knew that it +came from the beating of an angel's wings. All his +body trembled, his head fell forward a little and his +eyes closed.</p> + +<p>'This is death,' he thought, 'and my fate has come.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[248]</a></span> +A little longer, and she would have loved me.' But +he did not speak aloud.</p> + +<p>Again Zehowah's face was turned towards the wall, +and still the sound of her weeping filled the air, not +subsiding and dying away, but rather increasing with +every moment.</p> + +<p>'Life is not yet gone,' said Khaled in his heart. +'There is yet hope.' For he no longer felt the cold +breath on his forehead, and the trembling had ceased +for a moment.</p> + +<p>He tried to speak aloud, but his lips could not +form words nor his throat utter sounds, and he was +amazed at his weakness. A great despair came upon +him and his eyes were darkened so that he could not +see the lights.</p> + +<p>'If only I could speak to her now, she might love +me yet!' he thought.</p> + +<p>The distant murmur from without was louder now +and reached the room, and he heard it. He tried with +all his might to raise his hand, to lift his head, to +speak a single word.</p> + +<p>'It may be that this is the nature of death,' he +thought again, 'and I am already dead.'</p> + +<p>The noise from the multitude came louder and +louder. Zehowah heard it and her breath was caught +in her throat. She looked up and saw that the high +window of the chamber was no longer quite dark.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[249]</a></span> +The day was dawning. Then pressing her bosom with +her hands she looked again at Khaled. His head was +bent upon his breast and he was so still that she +thought he had fallen asleep. A cry broke from her +lips.</p> + +<p>'He cares not!' she exclaimed. 'What is it to +him, whether I go, or stay?'</p> + +<p>Again Khaled felt the cool breeze in the room, +fanning his forehead, and once more his limbs trembled. +Then he felt that his strength was returning and that +he could move. He raised his head and looked at +Zehowah, and just then there was a distant crashing +roar, as the Bedouins began to strike upon the gates.</p> + +<p>'It is time,' he said, and taking his sword in his +hand he rose from his seat.</p> + +<p>Zehowah came towards him with outstretched +hands, wet cheeks and burning eyes. She stood +before him as though to bar the way, and hinder him +from going out.</p> + +<p>'What is it to you, whether I go, or stay?' he +asked, repeating her own words.</p> + +<p>'What is it? By Allah, it is all my life—I will +not let you go!' And she took hold of his wrists +with her weak woman's hands, and tried to thrust +him back.</p> + +<p>'Go, Zehowah,' he answered, gently pressing her +from him. 'Go now, and let me meet them alone,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[250]</a></span> +knowing that you are safe. For though this be pity +which you feel, I know it is nothing more.'</p> + +<p>He would have passed by her, but still she held +him and kept before him.</p> + +<p>'You shall not go!' she cried. 'I will prevent +you with my body. Pity, you say? Oh, Khaled! +Is pity fierce? Is pity strong? Does pity burn like +fire? You shall not go, I say!'</p> + +<p>Then her hands grew cold upon his wrists, her +cheeks burned and in her eyes there was a deep and +gleaming light. All this Khaled felt and saw, while +he heard the raging of the multitude without. His +sight grew again uncertain. A third time the cool +breath blew in his face.</p> + +<p>'Yet it cannot be love,' he said uncertainly. Yet +she heard him.</p> + +<p>'Not love? Khaled, Khaled—my life, my breath, +my soul—breath of my life, life of my spirit—oh, +Khaled, you have never loved as I love you now!'</p> + +<p>Her hands let go his wrists and clasped about his +neck, and her face was hidden upon his shoulder +while her breath came and went like the gusts of the +burning storm in summer.</p> + +<p>But as he held her, Khaled looked up and saw +that the Angel of Allah was before him, having a +smiling countenance and bearing in his hand a bright +flame like the crescent moon.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[251]</a></span></p> + +<p>'It is well done, O Khaled,' said the Angel, 'and +this is thy reward. Allah sends thee this to be thy +own and to live after thy body, saying that thou hast +well earned it, for love such as thou hast got now is a +rare thing, not common with women and least of all +with wives of kings. And now Allah alone knows +what thy fate is to be, but thou shalt be judged at the +end like other men, according to thy deeds, be they +good or evil. And so receive thy soul and do with it +as thou wilt.'</p> + +<p>The Angel then held out the flame which was like +the crescent moon and it immediately took shape and +became the brighter image of Khaled himself, endowed +with immortality, and the knowledge of its own good +and evil. And when Khaled had looked at it fixedly +for a moment, being overcome with joy, the vision of +himself disappeared, and he was aware that it had +entered his own body and taken up its life within him.</p> + +<p>'Return thanks to Allah, and go thy way to the +end,' said the Angel, who then unfolded his wings and +departed to paradise whence he had come.</p> + +<p>But Khaled clasped Zehowah tightly in his arms, +and looking upwards repeated the first chapter of the +Koran and also the one hundred and tenth chapter, +which is entitled, Assistance. When he had performed +these inward devotions he turned his gaze +upon Zehowah and kissed her.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[252]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Praise be to Allah,' he said, 'for this and all +blessings. But now let us defend ourselves if we can, +my beloved, for I think my enemies are at hand.'</p> + +<p>And so he would have stooped to take up his +sword which had fallen upon the floor. But still +Zehowah held him and would not let him go.</p> + +<p>'Not yet, Khaled!' she cried. 'Not yet, soul of +my soul! The gates are very strong, and will withstand +this battering for some time.'</p> + +<p>'Would you have him whom you love sit still in +the net until the hunters come to catch him?' he +asked in a tender voice.</p> + +<p>'You said you would wait here,' she pleaded. 'If +we must die, let us die here—our life will be a little +longer so.'</p> + +<p>'Did I say so? I thought you did not love me +then, and I would have slain a few only, for my own +sake, that my blood might not be unavenged. But +now I will slay them all, for your sake, and the +bodies of the dead shall be a rampart for you.'</p> + +<p>'Oh, do not go!' she cried again. 'I know a +secret passage from the palace, that leads out by the +wall of the city—come quickly, there is yet time, and +we shall escape—for Allah will protect us. Surely, +when I was fainting in your arms I heard an angel's +voice—and surely the angel is yet with us, and will +lighten the way as we go.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[253]</a></span></p> + +<p>'The Angel was indeed here, for he brought me the +soul that was promised, if you loved me. And now +all is changed, for if we live, we get the victory and if +we die we shall inherit paradise.'</p> + +<p>And Zehowah looked into his eyes and saw the +living soul flaming within, and she believed him.</p> + +<p>'If you had always been as you are now, I should +have always loved you,' she said softly, and stooping +down she took up his sword and drew it out and put +it into his hand. 'I tried to wield one when you +were not looking,' she said, 'but it hurt my wrist. +Come, Khaled—let us go together.'</p> + +<p>Then he kissed her once more, and she kissed him, +and putting one arm about her, he led her swiftly out +by the passage towards the great gate. It was now +broad dawn and the light was coming in by the +narrow windows.</p> + +<p>Zehowah clung to Khaled closely, for the noise of +the thundering blows was terrible and deafening, and +the multitude without were shouting to each other and +calling upon Abdullah to come out, for they supposed +him to be in the palace. But the guards and soldiers +within had all hidden themselves though they were +awake, for there was no one to command them nor to +lead them, and they dared not open the gate lest +they themselves should be slain in the first rush of the +crowd.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[254]</a></span></p> + +<p>Then Khaled and Zehowah paused for a moment +near the gate.</p> + +<p>'It is better that you should go back, my beloved,' +said Khaled. 'Hear what a multitude of angry men +are waiting outside.'</p> + +<p>'I will not leave you—neither in life nor in +death,' she answered.</p> + +<p>'Let it be so, then,' said Khaled, 'and I will do my +best. For a hundred men could not stop the way +before me now, and I think that of five hundred I +could slay many.'</p> + +<p>So he went up to the gate, and Zehowah stood a +little behind him so as to be free of the first sweep of +his sword.</p> + +<p>'Abdullah!' cried some of the crowd without, while +battering at the iron-bound doors. 'Abdullah, thou +son of Mohammed and father of lies, come out to us, +or we will go to thee!'</p> + +<p>'Abdullah, thou thief, thou Persian, thou cheat, +come out, and may boiling water be thy portion!'</p> + +<p>'Stand back from the gate, and I will open it to +you!' cried Khaled in a voice that might have been +heard across the Red Desert as far as the shores of the +great ocean.</p> + +<p>'I, Khaled, will open,' he cried again.</p> + +<p>Then there was a great silence and the people fell +back a little.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[255]</a></span></p> + +<p>Khaled drew the bolts and unfastened the locks, +and opened the gates inward and stood forth alone in +the morning light, his sword in his hand and his soul +burning in his eyes.</p> + +<p>'Khaled!' cried the first who saw him, and the +cry was taken up.</p> + +<p>The shout was great, and full of joy and shook the +earth. For the multitude had grown hot in anger +against Abdullah, while they battered at the gates, supposing +that he had slain Khaled. But he himself could +not at first distinguish whether they were angry or glad.</p> + +<p>'If any man wishes to take my life,' he cried, 'let +him come and take it.'</p> + +<p>And the sword they all knew in battle, began to +make a storm of lightning about his head in the +morning sun.</p> + +<p>Then the strong man who had wrestled and thrown +the other before dawn, stood out alone and spoke in a +loud voice.</p> + +<p>'We will have no Sultan but Khaled!' he cried. +'Give us Abdullah that we may make trappings for +our camels from his skin.'</p> + +<p>Then Khaled sheathed his sword and came forward +from under the gate, and Zehowah stood veiled beside +him.</p> + +<p>'Where is this Abdullah?' he asked. 'Find him +if you can, for I would like to speak with him.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[256]</a></span></p> + +<p>Then there was silence for a space. But by this +time Abdullah's men had fled, for they had already +been forced back in the crowding, and so soon as they +saw Khaled standing unhurt under the palace gate, +they turned quickly and ran for their lives to escape +from the city, seeing that all was lost.</p> + +<p>'Where is Abdullah?' Khaled asked again.</p> + +<p>And a voice from afar off answered, as though +heralding the coming of a great personage.</p> + +<p>'Behold Abdullah, the Sultan of Nejed!' it cried.</p> + +<p>Then the multitude turned angrily, grasping swords +and spears and breathing curses. But the murmur +broke suddenly into a shout of laughter louder even +than the cry for Khaled had been. For a great procession +had entered the square and the people made +way for it as it advanced towards the palace.</p> + +<p>First came a score of lepers, singing in hideous +voices and dancing in the early sun, filthy and loathsome +to behold. And then came all manner of +cripples, laughing and chattering, with coloured rags +fastened to their staves, an army of distorted apes.</p> + +<p>Then, walking alone and feeling his way with his +staff came the Sheikh of the beggars. And in one +hand he held the end of a halter, which was fastened +about Abdullah's head and neck and between his +teeth, so that he could not cry out. And the blind +man chanted a kasid which he had composed in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[257]</a></span> +night in honour of Abdullah ibn Mohammed el Herir, +the victorious Sultan of Nejed.</p> + +<p>'Upon whom may Allah send much boiling water,' +sang the Sheikh of the beggars after each stave.</p> + +<p>And Abdullah, his head and face shaven as bald as +an ostrich's egg, was bent by the weight he carried, for +upon his shoulders rode the cripple whom they called +the Ass of Egypt, clapping the wooden shoes he used +on his hands, like cymbals to accompany the song of +the blind man. And last of all came a veiled woman, +walking sadly, for she could not escape, being surrounded +and driven on by many scores of beggars, all +dancing and shouting and crying out mock praises of +the Sultan Abdullah and his wife.</p> + +<p>But as the procession moved on the laughter +increased a hundredfold, until all men's eyes were +blind with mirth, and their breasts were bursting and +aching with so much merriment.</p> + +<p>At last the Sheikh of the beggars stood before +Khaled holding the halter. And here he made a deep +obeisance, pulling the halter so that Abdullah nearly +fell to the ground.</p> + +<p>'In the name of the beggars,' he said, 'I present +to your high majesty the Sultan of Nejed, Abdullah +ibn Mohammed, and his chief minister the Ass of +Egypt, and moreover the sultan's wife. May it +please your high majesty to reward the beggars with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[258]</a></span> +a few small coins and a little barley, for having +brought his high majesty, the new sultan, safely to +the gate of the palace and to the steps of the throne.'</p> + +<p>Thereupon all the beggars, the lepers, the cripples, +the blind men and those of weak understanding fell +down together at Khaled's feet.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>This is the story of Khaled the believing genius, +which he caused to be written down in letters of gold +by the most accomplished scribe in Nejed, that all men +might remember it. But of what afterwards occurred +there is nothing told in the scribe's manuscript. It is +recounted, however, in the commentaries of one Abd +ul Latif that Khaled did not cause Abdullah to be +beheaded, nor in any way hurt, save that he was +driven out of the city with his wife, where certain +Bedouins affirmed that he lived for many years with +her in great destitution. But it is well known that +after this Zehowah bore Khaled many strong sons, +whose children and children's children reigned gloriously +for many generations in Nejed. And Khaled +and Zehowah died full of years on the same day, and +lie buried together in a garden without the Hasa gate, +and the pilgrims from Ajman and the east visit their +tombs even to the present time.</p> + +<p class="tall center"><i>Printed by</i> <span class="smcap">R. & R. Clark</span>, <i>Edinburgh</i>.</p> + + +<div class="main"> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[259]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="MESSRS_MACMILLAN_AND_COS_PUBLICATIONS" id="MESSRS_MACMILLAN_AND_COS_PUBLICATIONS"></a>MESSRS. MACMILLAN AND CO.'S PUBLICATIONS.</h3> + +<h4 class="booklist">POPULAR NOVELS BY MR. MARION CRAWFORD.</h4> +<p class="center">Crown 8vo. Cloth. 3s. 6d. each.</p> + +<h4 class="booklist">MR. ISAACS: A Tale of Modern India.</h4> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="txt90"><i>DAILY NEWS</i>—"The best novel that has ever laid its scene in our +Indian dominions."</p> + +<p class="txt90"><i>ATHENÆUM</i>—"A work of unusual ability."</p></div> + +<h4 class="booklist">DR. CLAUDIUS. A True Story.</h4> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="txt90"><i>ATHENÆUM</i>—"Mr. Crawford has achieved another success."</p></div> + +<h4 class="booklist">A ROMAN SINGER.</h4> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="txt90"><i>TIMES</i>—"A masterpiece of narrative.... In Mr. Crawford's skilful +hands it is unlike any other romance in English literature."</p></div> + +<h4 class="booklist">ZOROASTER.</h4> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="txt90"><i>GUARDIAN</i>—"An instance of the highest and noblest form of novel.... +Alike in the originality of its conception and the power with which it is +wrought out, it stands on a level that is almost entirely its own."</p></div> + +<h4 class="booklist">MARZIO'S CRUCIFIX.<br /> +A TALE OF A LONELY PARISH.</h4> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="txt90"><i>GUARDIAN</i>—"The tale is written with all Mr. Crawford's skill."</p> + +<p class="txt90"><i>SATURDAY REVIEW</i>—"Unlike most novels, goes on improving up +to the end."</p></div> + +<h4 class="booklist">PAUL PATOFF.</h4> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="txt90"><i>ATHENÆUM</i>—"The originality of the story, the charm of the description, +and the brilliancy of the narrative are undeniable."</p></div> + +<h4 class="booklist">WITH THE IMMORTALS.</h4> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="txt90"><i>SPECTATOR</i>—"To do justice to Mr. Crawford's remarkable book by +extracts would be impossible.... It cannot fail to please a reader who enjoys +crisp, clear, vigorous writing, and thoughts that are alike original and suggestive."</p></div> + +<h4 class="booklist">GREIFENSTEIN.</h4> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="txt90"><i>SATURDAY REVIEW</i>—"With the exception of 'Saracinesca,' his +most consistent work, Mr. Crawford has not written anything so good as his +last novel 'Greifenstein.'"</p> + +<p class="txt90"><i>ACADEMY</i>—"During the whole of his literary career Mr. Marion Crawford +has produced nothing quite so powerful as one or two of the situations in +'Greifenstein.'"</p></div> + +<h4 class="booklist">SANT' ILARIO.</h4> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="txt90"><i>ATHENÆUM</i>—"The plot is skilfully concocted, and the interest is +sustained to the end. The various events, romantic, and even sensational, +follow naturally and neatly, and the whole is a very clever piece of work."</p> + +<p class="txt90"><i>SCOTSMAN</i>—"The book is full of passages of remarkable power. A +reader will find it hard to decide whether this is not the best of Mr. Crawford's +novels."</p></div> + +<h4 class="booklist">A CIGARETTE-MAKER'S ROMANCE.</h4> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="txt90"><i>OXFORD MAGAZINE</i>—"The idea of the story is original, the +characters well drawn, and the interest sustained to the very last page. +That Mr. Crawford, having a good story to tell, should tell it well, was only +to be expected."</p> + +<p class="txt90"><i>GLOBE</i>—"We are inclined to think this the best of Mr. Marion Crawford's +stories.... His art is here at its best, and those who read his book +will feel grateful to him for its keen humanity."</p></div> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[260]</a></span></p> + +<p class="tall center">NOVELS BY ROLF BOLDREWOOD.</p> + +<p class="center">New and Uniform Edition. Crown 8vo. Cloth. 3s. 6d. each.</p> + +<p class="txt110"><b>ROBBERY UNDER ARMS.</b></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="center">A STORY OF LIFE AND ADVENTURE IN THE BUSH AND +IN THE GOLD-FIELDS OF AUSTRALIA.</p></div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="txt90"><b>GUARDIAN</b>—"A singularly spirited and stirring tale of Australian life, chiefly in +the remoter settlements.... Altogether it is a capital story, full of wild adventure +and startling incidents, and told with a genuine simplicity and quiet appearance +of truth, as if the writer were really drawing upon his memory rather than his +imagination."</p> + +<p class="txt90"><b>SPECTATOR</b>—"We have nothing but praise for this story. Of adventure of the +most stirring kind there is, as we have said, abundance. But there is more than this. +The characters are drawn with great skill. Every one of the gang of bushrangers is +strongly individualised. This is a book of no common literary force."</p> + +<p class="txt90"><b>WORLD</b>—"An uncommonly good thing.... The book, in short, has the natural +touch, both of place and person, on every page."</p> + +<p class="txt90"><b>MORNING POST</b>—"As a picture of the earlier days of our Australian Colonies, and +as an absorbing story, 'Robbery under Arms' has few equals."</p> + +<p class="txt90"><b>GRAPHIC</b>—"That Mr. Boldrewood knows his subject through and through is as +certain as his picture of the breaking-out of the first gold fever in Australia is the best +ever written."</p></div> + +<p class="txt110"><b>THE SQUATTER'S DREAM.</b></p> + +<p class="txt110"><b>THE MINER'S RIGHT.</b></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="center">A TALE OF THE AUSTRALIAN GOLD-FIELDS.</p></div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="txt90"><b>WORLD</b>—"Full of good passages, passages abounding in vivacity, in the colour and +play of life.... The pith of the book lies in its singularly fresh and vivid pictures of +the humours of the gold-fields,—tragic humours enough they are, too, here and +again...."</p> + +<p class="txt90"><b>MANCHESTER EXAMINER</b>—"The characters are sketched with real life and +picturesqueness. The book is lively and readable from first to last."</p></div> + +<p class="txt110"><b>A COLONIAL REFORMER.</b></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="txt90"><b>ATHENÆUM</b>—"A series of natural and entertaining pictures of Australian life, +which are, above all things, readable."</p> + +<p class="txt90"><b>GLASGOW HERALD</b>—"One of the most interesting books about Australia we have +ever read."</p> + +<p class="txt90"><b>SATURDAY REVIEW</b>—"Mr. Boldrewood can tell what he knows with great point +and vigour, and there is no better reading than the adventurous parts of his books."</p></div> + +<p class="txt110"><b>A SYDNEY-SIDE SAXON.</b></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="txt80"><b>GLASGOW HERALD</b>—"The interest never flags, and altogether 'A Sydney-Side +Saxon' is a really refreshing book."</p> + +<p class="txt90"><b>ANTI-JACOBIN</b>—"Thoroughly well worth reading.... A clever book, admirably +written.... Brisk in incident, truthful and life-like in character.... Beyond and +above all it has that stimulating hygienic quality, that cheerful, unconscious healthfulness, +which makes a story like 'Robinson Crusoe,' or 'The Vicar of Wakefield,' so +unspeakably refreshing after a course of even good contemporary fiction."</p></div> + +<p class="txt110"><b>NEVERMORE.</b></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="txt90"><b>ACADEMY</b>—"Is perhaps the best story of the Rolf Boldrewood Series. Must be +allowed to be one of the best works of the period."</p></div> + +<p class="tall center">MACMILLAN AND CO., LONDON.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[261]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 179px;"> +<img src="images/i002.jpg" width="179" height="300" alt="Mr. F. Marion Crawford." title="Mr. F. Marion Crawford." /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Mr. F. Marion Crawford.</span></span> +</div> + +<p class="center txt150"><a name="MACMILLANS" id="MACMILLANS"></a>MACMILLAN'S</p> + +<p class="center txt200" style="line-height: 1.5em;">Three-and-Sixpenny Library</p> + +<div style="line-height: 1.5em;"> +<p class="allcaps center">OF WORKS BY</p> + +<p class="center">POPULAR AUTHORS</p> + +<p class="center">In crown 8vo, cloth extra.</p></div> + +<p class="center"><i>Recent Additions to the Series:</i></p> + +<p class="hang"><b>Historical Characters.</b> By Sir <span class="smcap">Henry Lytton Bulwer</span> +(Lord <span class="smcap">Dalling</span>).</p> + +<p class="hang"><b>Curiosities of Natural History.</b> In 4 vols. By <span class="smcap">Frank +Buckland</span>.</p> + +<p class="hang"><b>The Dewy Morn:</b> A Novel. By <span class="smcap">Richard Jefferies</span>.</p> + +<p class="hang"><b>The Ingoldsby Legends.</b> With 50 Illustrations by <span class="smcap">Cruikshank, +Leech, Tenniel</span>, etc.</p> + +<p class="hang"><b>Consequences:</b> A Novel. By <span class="smcap">Egerton Castle</span>.</p> + +<p class="hang"><b>Thirlby Hall.</b> By <span class="smcap">W. E. Norris</span>.</p> + +<p class="hang"><b>A Bachelor's Blunder.</b> By <span class="smcap">W. E. Norris</span>.</p> + +<p class="hang"><b>Breezie Langton.</b> By <span class="smcap">Hawley Smart</span>.</p> + +<p class="hang"><b>The Three Clerks.</b> By <span class="smcap">Anthony Trollope</span>.</p> + +<p class="hang"><b>Fickle Fortune.</b> By <span class="smcap">E. Werner</span>.</p> + +<p class="hang"><b>Success, and How He Won It.</b> By <span class="smcap">E. Werner</span>.</p> + +<p class="hang"><b>Private Life of Marie Antoinette.</b> By <span class="smcap">Madame Campan</span>.</p> + +<p class="hang"><b>The Life of Oliver Cromwell.</b> By <span class="smcap">M. Guizot</span>.</p> + +<p class="hang"><b>Mary Queen of Scots.</b> By <span class="smcap">M. Mignet</span>.</p> + +<p class="hang"><b>Memories of Father Healy of Little Bray.</b></p> + +<p class="hang"><b>Autobiography and Reminiscences.</b> By <span class="smcap">W. P. Frith, R.A.</span></p> + +<p class="hang"><b>The Recollections of Marshall Macdonald, Duke of +Tarentum.</b></p> + +<p class="tall center"><i>A complete List of the Series will be found on the following pages</i></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[262]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 227px;"> +<img src="images/i003.jpg" width="227" height="300" alt="Rolf Boldrewood." title="Rolf Boldrewood." /> +<span class="caption">Rolf Boldrewood.</span> +</div> + + +<p class="tall center"><i>ANONYMOUS.</i></p> + + +<ul><li>Hogan, M.P.</li> +<li>Tim.</li> +<li>The New Antigone.</li> +<li>Flitters, Tatters, and the Counsellor.</li> +</ul> + + +<p class="tall center"><i>By</i><br /> +<i>ROLF BOLDREWOOD.</i></p> + + +<ul><li>Robbery Under Arms.</li> +<li>The Squatter's Dream.</li> +<li>A Colonial Reformer.</li> +<li>The Miner's Right.</li> +<li>A Sidney-Side Saxon.</li> +<li>Nevermore.</li> +<li>A Modern Buccaneer.</li> +<li>The Sealskin Coat.</li> +<li>Old Melbourne Memories.</li> +<li>My Run Home.</li> +<li>The Crooked Stick.</li> +<li>Plain Living.</li> +</ul> + + +<p class="tall center"><i>By ROSA N. CAREY.</i></p> + + +<ul><li>Nellie's Memories.</li> +<li>Wee Wifie.</li> +<li>Barbara Heathcote's Trial.</li> +<li>Robert Ord's Atonement.</li> +<li>Wooed and Married.</li> +<li>Heriot's Choice.</li> +<li>Queenie's Whim.</li> +<li>Mary St. John.</li> +<li>Not Like Other Girls.</li> +<li>For Lilias.</li> +<li>Uncle Max.</li> +<li>Only the Governess.</li> +<li>Lover or Friend?</li> +<li>Basil Lyndhurst.</li> +<li>Sir Godfrey's Grand-daughters.</li> +<li>The Old Old Story.</li> +<li>Mistress of Brae Farm.</li> +<li>Mrs. Romney, and But Men Must Work.</li> +</ul> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[263]</a></span></p> +<p class="tall center"><i>By Mrs. CRAIK.</i></p> + +<p class="center">(The Author of "<span class="smcap">John Halifax, Gentleman</span>.")</p> + + +<ul><li>Olive.</li> +<li>The Ogilvies.</li> +<li>Agatha's Husband.</li> +<li>Head of the Family.</li> +<li>Two Marriages.</li> +<li>The Laurel Bush.</li> +<li>About Money, and other Things.</li> +<li>My Mother and I.</li> +<li>Miss Tommy: A Mediaeval Romance.</li> +<li>King Arthur: not a Love Story.</li> +<li>Concerning Men, and other Papers.</li> +</ul> + + +<p class="tall center"><i>By F. MARION CRAWFORD.</i></p> + + +<ul><li>Mr. Isaacs.</li> +<li>Dr. Claudius.</li> +<li>A Roman Singer.</li> +<li>Zoroaster.</li> +<li>Marzio's Crucifix.</li> +<li>A Tale of a Lonely Parish.</li> +<li>Paul Patoff.</li> +<li>With the Immortals.</li> +<li>Greifenstein.</li> +<li>Sant' Ilario.</li> +<li>A Cigarette-Maker's Romance.</li> +<li>Khaled.</li> +<li>The Three Fates.</li> +<li>The Witch of Prague.</li> +<li>Children of the King.</li> +<li>Marion Darche.</li> +<li>Pietro Ghisleri.</li> +<li>Katharine Lauderdale.</li> +<li>Don Orsino.</li> +<li>The Ralstons.</li> +<li>Casa Braccio.</li> +<li>Adam Johnstone's Son.</li> +<li>A Rose of Yesterday.</li> +<li>Taquisara.</li> +</ul> + + +<p class="tall center"><i>By Sir H. CUNNINGHAM.</i></p> + + +<ul><li>The Heriots.</li> +<li>Wheat and Tares.</li> +<li>The Coeruleans.</li> +</ul> + + +<p class="tall center"><i>By CHARLES DICKENS.</i></p> + + +<ul><li>The Pickwick Papers.</li> +<li>Oliver Twist.</li> +<li>Nicholas Nickleby.</li> +<li>Martin Chuzzlewit.</li> +<li>The Old Curiosity Shop.</li> +<li>Barnaby Rudge.</li> +<li>Dombey and Son.</li> +<li>Christmas Books.</li> +<li>Sketches by Boz.</li> +<li>David Copperfield.</li> +<li>American Notes and Pictures from Italy.</li> +<li>The Letters of Charles Dickens.</li> +<li>Bleak House.</li> +<li>Little Dorrit.</li> +</ul> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[264]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 228px;"> +<img src="images/i004.jpg" width="228" height="300" alt="Miss Rosa N. Carey." title="Miss Rosa N. Carey." /> +<span class="caption">Miss Rosa N. Carey.</span> +</div> + + +<p class="tall center">'ENGLISH MEN OF LETTERS.'</p> + +<p class="center">Re-issue in 13 vols.</p> + + +<table class="books" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Booklist"> +<tr><td class="tcol1">Vol. I.</td><td align="left">Chaucer, Spenser, Dryden.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tcol1">II.</td><td align="left">Milton, Goldsmith, Cowper.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tcol1">III.</td><td align="left">Byron, Shelley, Keats.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tcol1">IV.</td><td align="left">Wordsworth, Southey, Landor.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tcol1">V.</td><td align="left">Lamb, Addison, Swift.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tcol1">VI.</td><td align="left">Scott, Burn, Coleridge.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tcol1">VII.</td><td align="left">Hume, Locke, Burke.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tcol1">VIII.</td><td align="left">Defoe, Sterne, Hawthorne.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tcol1">IX.</td><td align="left">Fielding, Thackeray, Dickens.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tcol1">X.</td><td align="left">Gibbon, Carlyle, Macaulay.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tcol1">XI.</td><td align="left">Sidney, De Quincey, Sheridan.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tcol1">XII.</td><td align="left">Pope, Johnson, Gray.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tcol1">XIII.</td><td align="left">Bacon, Bunyan, Bentley.</td></tr> +</table> + + +<p class="tall center"><i>By DEAN FARRAR.</i></p> + + +<ul><li>Seekers after God.</li> +<li>Eternal Hope.</li> +<li>The Fall of Man.</li> +<li>The Witness of History to Christ.</li> +<li>The Silence and Voices of God.</li> +<li>In the Days of thy Youth.</li> +<li>Saintly Workers.</li> +<li>Ephphatha.</li> +<li>Mercy and Judgment.</li> +<li>Sermons and Addresses.</li> +</ul> + + +<p class="tall center"><i>By BRET HARTE.</i></p> + + +<ul><li>Cressy.</li> +<li>The Heritage of Dedlow Marsh.</li> +<li>A First Family of Tasajara.</li> +</ul> + + +<p class="tall center"><i>By THOMAS HUGHES.</i></p> + + +<ul><li>Tom Brown's School Days.</li> +<li>Tom Brown at Oxford.</li> +<li>The Scouring of the White Horse, and the Ashen Faggot.</li> +</ul> + + +<p class="tall center"><i>By HENRY JAMES.</i></p> + + +<ul><li>A London Life.</li> +<li>The Aspen Papers, etc.</li> +<li>The Tragic Muse.</li> +</ul> + + +<p class="tall center"><i>By ANNIE KEARY.</i></p> + + +<ul><li>Castle Daly.</li> +<li>A York and a Lancaster Rose.</li> +<li>Oldbury.</li> +<li>A Doubting Heart.</li> +<li>Janet's Home.</li> +<li>Nations round Israel.</li> +</ul> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[265]</a></span></p> +<p class="tall center"><i>By CHARLES KINGSLEY.</i></p> + + +<ul><li>Westward Ho!</li> +<li>Hypatia.</li> +<li>Yeast.</li> +<li>Alton Locke.</li> +<li>Two Years Ago.</li> +<li>Hereward the Wake.</li> +<li>Poems.</li> +<li>The Heroes.</li> +<li>The Water Babies.</li> +<li>Madam How and Lady Why.</li> +<li>At Last.</li> +<li>Prose Idylls.</li> +<li>Plays and Puritans, etc.</li> +<li>The Roman and the Teuton.</li> +<li>Sanitary and Social Lectures and Essays.</li> +<li>Historical Lectures and Essays.</li> +<li>Scientific Lectures and Essays.</li> +<li>Literary and General Lectures.</li> +<li>The Hermits.</li> +<li>Glaucus: or the Wonders of The Seashore.</li> +<li>Village and Town and Country Sermons.</li> +<li>The Water of Life, and other Sermons.</li> +<li>Sermons on National Subjects, and the King of the Earth.</li> +<li>Sermons for the Times.</li> +<li>Good News of God.</li> +<li>The Gospel of the Pentateuch, and David.</li> +<li>Discipline, and other Sermons.</li> +<li>Westminster Sermons.</li> +<li>All Saints' Day, and other Sermons.</li> +</ul> + + +<p class="tall center"><i>By FREDERICK DENISON MAURICE.</i></p> + + +<ul><li>Sermons Preached in Lincoln's Inn Chapel. In 6 vols.</li> +<li>Christmas Day, and other Sermons.</li> +<li>Theological Essays.</li> +<li>Prophets and Kings.</li> +<li>Patriarchs and Lawgivers.</li> +<li>The Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven.</li> +<li>Gospel of St. John.</li> +<li>Epistles of St. John.</li> +<li>Friendship of Books.</li> +<li>Prayer Book and Lord's Prayer.</li> +<li>The Doctrine of Sacrifice.</li> +<li>Acts of the Apostles.</li> +</ul> + + +<p class="tall center"><i>By D. CHRISTIE MURRAY.</i></p> + + +<ul><li>Aunt Rachel.</li> +<li>He Fell among Thieves. <span class="smcap">D. C. Murray</span> and <span class="smcap">H. Hermann</span>.</li> +<li>John Vale's Guardian.</li> +<li>Schwartz.</li> +<li>The Weaker Vessel.</li> +</ul> + + +<p class="tall center"><i>By Mrs. OLIPHANT.</i></p> + + +<ul><li>A Beleaguered City.</li> +<li>Joyce.</li> +<li>Neighbours on the Green.</li> +<li>Kirsteen.</li> +<li>Hester.</li> +<li>Sir Tom.</li> +<li>A Country Gentleman and his Family.</li> +<li>The Curate in Charge.</li> +<li>The Second Son.</li> +<li>He that Will Not when He May.</li> +<li>The Railway Man and his Children.</li> +<li>The Marriage of Elinor.</li> +<li>The Heir-Presumptive and the Heir-Apparent.</li> +<li>A Son of the Soil.</li> +<li>The Wizard's Son.</li> +<li>Young Musgrave.</li> +<li>Lady William.</li> +</ul> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[266]</a></span></p> +<div class="figleft" style="width: 226px;"> +<img src="images/i005.jpg" width="226" height="300" alt="Miss C. M. Yonge." title="Miss C. M. Yonge." /> +<span class="caption">Miss C. M. Yonge.</span> +</div> + + +<p class="tall center"><i>By Mrs. PARR.</i></p> + + +<ul><li>Adam and Eve.</li> +<li>Loyalty George.</li> +<li>Dorothy Fox.</li> +<li>Robin.</li> +</ul> + + +<p class="tall center"><i>By J. H. SHORTHOUSE.</i></p> + + +<ul><li>John Inglesant.</li> +<li>Sir Percival.</li> +<li>The Little Schoolmaster Mark.</li> +<li>The Countess Eve.</li> +<li>A Teacher of the Violin.</li> +<li>Blanche, Lady Falaise.</li> +</ul> + + +<p class="tall center"><i>By J. TIMBS.</i></p> + + +<ul><li>Lives of Statesmen.</li> +<li>Lives of Painters.</li> +<li>Doctors and Patients.</li> +<li>Wits and Humourists. 2 vols.</li> +</ul> + + +<p class="tall center"><i>By MONTAGU WILLIAMS.</i></p> + + +<ul><li>Leaves of a Life.</li> +<li>Later Leaves.</li> +<li>Round London.</li> +</ul> + + +<p class="tall center"><i>By CHARLOTTE M. YONGE.</i></p> + + +<ul><li>The Heir of Redclyffe.</li> +<li>Heartsease.</li> +<li>Hopes and Fears.</li> +<li>Dynevor Terrace.</li> +<li>The Daisy Chain.</li> +<li>The Trial: More Links of the Daisy Chain.</li> +<li>Pillars of the House. Vol. I.</li> +<li>Pillars of the House. Vol. II.</li> +<li>The Young Stepmother.</li> +<li>The Clever Woman of the Family.</li> +<li>The Three Brides.</li> +<li>My Young Alcides.</li> +<li>The Caged Lion.</li> +<li>Stray Pearls.</li> +<li>The Dove in the Eagle's Nest.</li> +<li>The Chaplet of Pearls.</li> +<li>Lady Hester, and the Danvers Papers.</li> +<li>Magnum Bonum.</li> +<li>Love and Life.</li> +<li>Unknown to History.</li> +<li>The Armourer's 'Prentices.</li> +<li>The Two Sides of the Shield.</li> +<li>Scenes and Characters.</li> +<li>Nuttie's Father.</li> +<li>Chantry House.</li> +<li>A Modern Telemachus.</li> +<li>Bye-Words.</li> +<li>More Bye-Words.</li> +<li>Beechcroft at Rockstone.</li> +<li>A Reputed Changeling.</li> +<li>The Little Duke.</li> +<li>The Lances of Lynwood.</li> +<li>The Prince and the Page.</li> +<li>P's and Q's, and Little Lucy's Wonderful Globe.</li> +<li>Two Penniless Princesses.</li> +<li>That Stick.</li> +<li>Grisly Grisell.</li> +<li>An Old Woman's Outlook.</li> +<li>The Long Vacation.</li> +<li>The Release.</li> +<li>Pilgrimage of the Ben Beriah.</li> +<li>Henrietta's Wish.</li> +<li>The Two Guardians.</li> +</ul> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[267]</a></span></p> +<p class="tall center"><i>By</i> VARIOUS WRITERS.</p> + +<div class="txt90"> +<p class="hang"><span class="smcap">Canon</span> ATKINSON.—<b>The Last of the Giant Killers.</b></p> + +<p class="hang"><span class="smcap">Sir</span> S. W. BAKER.—<b>True Tales for my Grandsons.</b></p> + +<p class="hang">R. H. D. BARHAM.—<b>Life of Rev. R. H. Barham.</b>—<b>Life of Theodore Hook.</b></p> + +<p class="hang">R. BLENNERHASSETT <span class="smcap">and</span> L. SLEEMAN.—<b>Adventures in Mashonaland.</b></p> + +<p class="hang"><span class="smcap">Sir</span> HENRY LYTTON BULWER (<span class="smcap">Lord</span> DALLING).—<b>Historical Characters.</b></p> + +<p class="hang">HUGH CONWAY.—<b>Living or Dead?</b>—<b>A Family Affair.</b></p> + +<p class="hang"><span class="smcap">Sir</span> MORTIMER DURAND, K.C.I.E.—<b>Helen Treveryan.</b></p> + +<p class="hang">LANOE FALCONER.—<b>Cecilia de Noël.</b></p> + +<p class="hang">ARCHIBALD FORBES.—<b>Barracks, Bivouacs, and Battles.</b>—<b>Souvenirs of Some Continents.</b></p> + +<p class="hang">W. FORBES-MITCHELL.—<b>Reminiscences of the Great Mutiny, 1857-59.</b></p> + +<p class="hang">W. W. FOWLER.—<b>A Year with the Birds.</b></p> + +<p class="hang"><span class="smcap">Rev.</span> J. GILMORE.—<b>Storm Warriors.</b></p> + +<p class="hang">HENRY KINGSLEY.—<b>Tales of Old Travel.</b></p> + +<p class="hang">AMY LEVY.—<b>Reuben Sachs.</b></p> + +<p class="hang">S. R. LYSAGHT.—<b>The Marplot.</b></p> + +<p class="hang">LORD LYTTON.—<b>The Ring of Amasis.</b></p> + +<p class="hang">M. M'LENNAN.—<b>Muckle Jock, and other Stories of Peasant Life.</b></p> + +<p class="hang">LUCAS MALET.—<b>Mrs. Lorimer.</b></p> + +<p class="hang">GUSTAVE MASSON.—<b>A French Dictionary.</b></p> + +<p class="hang">A. B. MITFORD.—<b>Tales of Old Japan.</b></p> + +<p class="hang">MARY R. MITFORD.—<b>Recollections of a Literary Life.</b></p> + +<p class="hang"><span class="smcap">Major</span> G. PARRY.—<b>The Story of Dick.</b></p> + +<p class="hang">E. C. PRICE.—<b>In the Lion's Mouth.</b></p> + +<p class="hang">W. C. RHOADES.—<b>John Trevennick.</b></p> + +<p class="hang">W. CLARK RUSSELL.—<b>Marooned.</b>—<b>A Strange Elopement.</b></p> + +<p class="hang">THE WORKS OF SHAKESPEARE.—Vol. I. <b>Comedies.</b> Vol. II. <b>Histories.</b> +Vol. III. <b>Tragedies.</b> 3 vols.</p> + +<p class="hang">MARCHESA THEODOLI.—<b>Under Pressure.</b></p> + +<p class="hang">"TIMES!"—<b>Biographies of Eminent Persons.</b> In 6 vols.—<b>Annual Summaries.</b> +In 2 vols.</p> + +<p class="hang"><span class="smcap">Mrs.</span> HUMPHRY WARD.—<b>Miss Bretherton.</b></p> + +<p class="hang">C. WHITEHEAD.—<b>Richard Savage.</b></p></div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[268]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 204px;"> +<img src="images/i006.jpg" width="204" height="300" alt="Sir Walter Scott." title="Sir Walter Scott." /> +<span class="caption">Sir Walter Scott.</span> +</div> + +<p class="tall txt90"><i>Now Ready.</i> Crown 8vo, tastefully bound +in Green Cloth, Gilt, in which binding any +of the Novels may be bought separately, +price 3<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i> each. Also in Special Cloth +Binding, Flat Backs, Gilt Tops, supplied +in Sets only of 24 Volumes, price £4 4<i>s.</i></p> + + +<p class="center txt200">The Illustrated +Border Edition<br /> +<span class="txt50">OF THE</span><br /> +Waverley Novels</p> + +<p class="txt90">Edited with Introductory Essays and +Notes to each Novel (supplementing those +of the Author) by <span class="smcap">Andrew Lang</span>. With +250 Original Illustrations from Drawings +and Paintings specially executed by eminent +Artists.</p> + + +<h3>List of the Volumes.</h3> + + + +<table class="books" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Booklist"> +<tr><td class="tcol1">1.</td><td align="left">Waverley.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tcol1">2.</td><td align="left">Guy Mannering.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tcol1">3.</td><td align="left">The Antiquary.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tcol1">4.</td><td align="left">Rob Roy.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tcol1">5.</td><td align="left">Old Mortality.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tcol1">6.</td><td align="left">The Heart of Midlothian.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tcol1">7.</td><td align="left">A Legend of Montrose, and The Black Dwarf.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tcol1">8.</td><td align="left">The Bride of Lammermoor.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tcol1">9.</td><td align="left">Ivanhoe.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tcol1">10.</td><td align="left">The Monastery.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tcol1">11.</td><td align="left">The Abbot.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tcol1">12.</td><td align="left">Kenilworth.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tcol1">13.</td><td align="left">The Pirate.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tcol1">14.</td><td align="left">The Fortunes of Nigel.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tcol1">15.</td><td align="left">Peveril of the Peak.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tcol1">16.</td><td align="left">Quentin Durward.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tcol1">17.</td><td align="left">St. Ronan's Well.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tcol1">18.</td><td align="left">Redgauntlet.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tcol1">19.</td><td align="left">The Betrothed, and the Talisman.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tcol1">20.</td><td align="left">Woodstock.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tcol1">21.</td><td align="left">The Fair Maid of Perth.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tcol1">22.</td><td align="left">Anne of Geierstein.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tcol1">23.</td><td align="left">Count Robert of Paris, and The Surgeon's Daughter.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tcol1">24.</td><td align="left">Castle Dangerous, Chronicles of the Canongate, etc.</td></tr> +</table> + + +<h3>Some of the Artists contributing to the "Border Edition."</h3> + + +<ul><li>Sir J. E. Millais, Bart, P.R.A.</li> +<li>Lockhart Bogle.</li> +<li>Gordon Browne.</li> +<li>D. Y. Cameron.</li> +<li>Frank Dadd, R.I.</li> +<li>R. de Los Rios.</li> +<li>Herbert Dicksee.</li> +<li>M. L. Gow, R.I.</li> +<li>W. B. Hole, R.S.A.</li> +<li>John Pettie, R.A.</li> +<li>Sir James De Linton, P.R.I.</li> +<li>Ad Lalauze.</li> +<li>J. E. Lauder, R.S.A.</li> +<li>W. Hatherell, R.I.</li> +<li>Sam Bough, R.S.A.</li> +<li>W. E. Lockhart, R.S.A.</li> +<li>R. W. Macbeth, A.R.A.</li> +<li>H. Macbeth-Raeburn.</li> +<li>J. Macwhirter, A.R.A., R.S.A.</li> +<li>W. Q. Orchardson, R.A.</li> +<li>James Orrock, R.I.</li> +<li>Walter Paget.</li> +<li>Sir George Reid, P.R.S.A.</li> +<li>Frank Short.</li> +<li>W. Strang.</li> +<li>Sir Henry Raeburn, R.A., P.R.S.A.</li> +<li>Arthur Hopkins, A.R.W.S.</li> +<li>R. Herdman, R.S.A.</li> +<li>D. Herdman.</li> +<li>Hugh Cameron, R.S.A.</li> +</ul> + +<p class="tall center">MACMILLAN & CO., Limited, LONDON</p> +</div> + +<div class="tr"> +<h4>Transcriber's Notes:</h4> + + +<p>Minor punctuation corrections have been made without comment.</p> + +<p>A Table of Contents has been created by the transcriber to aid reader +navigation in this e-text.</p> + +<p>Word Variations:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> + <p>"carcase(s)" (2) (Br. sp.) and "carcass" (1)</p> + + <p class="hang">"Khaled ibn Walid" (1) and "Khaled ibn Walad" (1) + (both referred to as "the Sword of the Lord")</p></div></div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Khaled, A Tale of Arabia, by F. 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