Latest / Khaled, A Tale of Arabia / 11 - Khaled, A Tale of Arabia by Francis Marion Crawford

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11 - Khaled, A Tale of Arabia by Francis Marion Crawford · Khaled, A Tale of Arabia

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Speaker 1: Chapter eleven. In these days, many of the Beduin tribes
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Speaker 1: came near the city and encamped in great numbers within
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Speaker 1: half a day's journey and less. Abdullah was exceedingly busy
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Speaker 1: with his preparations and spent much time in talking with
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Speaker 1: the other sheikhs, hardly making any concealment of his movements
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Speaker 1: or plans, for by this time it seemed clear to
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Speaker 1: him that the greater part of the people were with him,
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Speaker 1: and everyone spoke of the coming overthrow of Khaled as
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Speaker 1: an open matter. Khaled himself too was reported to be
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Speaker 1: in fear of his life, and he was no longer
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Speaker 1: seen in the streets as formerly, nor in the courts
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Speaker 1: of the palace, nor even every day in the hall,
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Speaker 1: but remained shut up in the harem, and none saw
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Speaker 1: him except the women and a few slaves. Men said
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Speaker 1: aloud that he was in great fear and distress. And
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Speaker 1: as this story gained credence, so Abdullah's importance increased, since
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Speaker 1: was he who had brought such terror upon Klet. All
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Speaker 1: this was open talking the bazaar, But Abdullah was himself
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Speaker 1: somewhat suspicious, supposing that Kled must have a plan reserve
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Speaker 1: for defending his possession of the throne. Abdullah, however, kept
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Speaker 1: secret demander in which he intended to enter the palace,
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Speaker 1: though he promised his adherents to open them the gate
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Speaker 1: to the castle and the doors of the treasure chambers
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Speaker 1: on a certain day, which he named at the time.
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Speaker 1: The first called a prayer in the morning, warning all
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Speaker 1: those who were with him to come together in the
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Speaker 1: great square before that hour, in order to be ready
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Speaker 1: to help him if necessary, and to overwhelm the guards
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Speaker 1: of the palace if they should make any resistance. But
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Speaker 1: he did not know that the man of his tribe,
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Speaker 1: whose kinsman to the chief of the beggars, had overheard
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Speaker 1: his talk with his wife. Meanwhile, the beggar seemed to
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Speaker 1: be multiplied exceedingly in Riyat, for whenever Abdullah went out
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Speaker 1: of his house, they came upon him, sometimes by twos
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Speaker 1: and threes, and sometimes in scores, pressing close to him
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Speaker 1: and begging alms. They also cried out a great deal,
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Speaker 1: praising his generosity and praying for blessings upon him. Behold
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Speaker 1: the Sheikh of sheikhs, they exclaimed, he bears gold in
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Speaker 1: his right hand and silver in his left. Yallah sent
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Speaker 1: him away long life and prosperity. For he loves the poor,
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Speaker 1: and his name is the Almsgiver. He is not Elharir,
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Speaker 1: but el Raman, and his heart overflows with mercy, as
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Speaker 1: his purse does with small coins. Come, o, brothers, and
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Speaker 1: taste of his charity, which is a perpetual spring of
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Speaker 1: good water. Was not a palm tree full of sugar.
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Speaker 1: Dates Ya Abdullah, servant of Allah. We love you. You
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Speaker 1: are our father and mother. Your kafia is a banner
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Speaker 1: which goes before our pilgrimage. Come, oh, brothers, and taste
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Speaker 1: of his charity. Abdullah was not dissatisfied with these words,
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Speaker 1: and the beggar said much more to the same effect,
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Speaker 1: which he regarded as signs of his popularity, so that
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Speaker 1: he opened his purse from time to time and threw
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Speaker 1: handfuls of money into the crowd, not counting the cost,
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Speaker 1: since he expected to be master of all the treasure
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Speaker 1: in Riad within a few days. But the beggars were disappointed,
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Speaker 1: for they had hoped that he would turn out to
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Speaker 1: be avaricious and enifvored to elude them by walking through
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Speaker 1: narrow and lonely streets where they might catch him. So
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Speaker 1: they pressed more and more upon him every day, trying
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Speaker 1: to exhaust his patience and his charity. In this however,
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Speaker 1: they failed, not understanding that the vanity of such a
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Speaker 1: man is inexhaustible and knows no price. Abdullah, too, chose
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Speaker 1: rather to be abroad during the daytime than in the
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Speaker 1: evening or the early morning, for he desired to be
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Speaker 1: seen by the multitude and spoken of as having went
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Speaker 1: through the market place. Yet on the last evening of
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Speaker 1: all he fell into the hands of the sheek of
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Speaker 1: the beggars, and evil befill him. The hour of prayer
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Speaker 1: was passed, and it was almost the time when lights
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Speaker 1: are extinguished. Then Abdullah took his sword under his abba,
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Speaker 1: and also a good knife, which he had proved in battle,
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Speaker 1: and which in his hand would pierce a coat of
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Speaker 1: mail as though it were silk. Al Masta his wife
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Speaker 1: also made a bundle of woman's clothing and carried it
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Speaker 1: in her arms, for they intended to go to a
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Speaker 1: lonely place by the city wall, that Abdullah might there
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Speaker 1: put out female garments before entering the palace. He feared, indeed,
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Speaker 1: lest if it were afterwards known by what disguise he
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Speaker 1: had accomplished his purpose, he might receive some name in derision,
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Speaker 1: from which he could never escape so long as he lived.
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Speaker 1: Yet he had no choice but the dresses a woman,
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Speaker 1: since he could not otherwise by any means, have gone
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Speaker 1: to the harem. As he came out of his house,
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Speaker 1: accompanied only by Almasta, he was seen at once by
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Speaker 1: the two beggars, who were always on the watch, and then,
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Speaker 1: wishing to warn their companions, of whom many were lying
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Speaker 1: asleep upon doorsteps in the same street and in others
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Speaker 1: close by, these two made haste to get up, pretending
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Speaker 1: to be lame, and making a great clatter with their
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Speaker 1: stabs as they lived after Abdullah, then, he who will
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Speaker 1: lived to exercise charity in the marketplace, but not in
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Speaker 1: the dark, where none could applaud him, made a pretense
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Speaker 1: of not seeing the poor man, and went swiftly on,
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Speaker 1: with almost running by his side. But as he walked fast,
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Speaker 1: the two beggars, although apparently lame, increased their speed with
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Speaker 1: his and their clatter. Also does a sound man need
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Speaker 1: a horse to escape from cripples, asked Abdullah, and turned
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Speaker 1: quickly into a narrow lane. It would be wiser to
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Speaker 1: scatter a few coins to them, said Almasta. They will
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Speaker 1: then stop and search for them in the dark, for
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Speaker 1: these men are very importune and will certainly hinder us.
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Speaker 1: But Abdullah was confident in his legs as a strong man,
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Speaker 1: and only walked the faster, so that almosta could with
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Speaker 1: great difficulty keep beside him. Then they heard the beggars
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Speaker 1: running after them in the dark, and calling upon them,
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Speaker 1: Oh Abdullah, they cried, the light of your charitable countenance
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Speaker 1: goes before us like a lantern and illuminates the whole street.
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Speaker 1: Be merciful and give us a small coin, and I'll
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Speaker 1: reward you. Then Adua stopped in the darkest part of
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Speaker 1: the narrow lane, seeing that they had recognized him, and
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Speaker 1: conceived that it would be reproachful for a sheikh of
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Speaker 1: pure blood to run from beggars, And he feared also
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Speaker 1: that it would be remembered against him on the morrow.
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Speaker 1: He therefore made a pretense of being diverted and laughed. Surely,
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Speaker 1: he said, the lame men of Riyad could outrun in
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Speaker 1: a race the sound men of any other city. And
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Speaker 1: by allah, I have little money with me, for I
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Speaker 1: was going to a friend's house to receive a sum
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Speaker 1: due to me. For certain mares, it'll give you what
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Speaker 1: I have, and I pray you go in peace. Thereupon
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Speaker 1: he sought in his wallet for something to give them,
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Speaker 1: and while he was seeking, they begin to praise him
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Speaker 1: after their manner. See this, Abdullah, they said, he is
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Speaker 1: the father of the poor and distressed, and is ever
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Speaker 1: ready to divide all he has with us. Yellah bless
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Speaker 1: him exceedingly, Yellah, increase his family born. Abdullah have found
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Speaker 1: the money and was putting it into their hands. You
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Speaker 1: suddenly aware that instead of two beggars there were not
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Speaker 1: ten or more. And these again multiplied in an extraordinary manner,
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Speaker 1: so that he felt himself hemmed in on every side
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Speaker 1: in a close press. Oh Allah, he exclaimed. Thou Art
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Speaker 1: witnessed that unless these small coins are multiplied a hundredfold
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Speaker 1: as the basket of states by the Prophet of the
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Speaker 1: Trench before Medina, I shall have nothing to give these
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Speaker 1: worthy persons. By this time, the blind scheek of the
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Speaker 1: beggars was present, and he pushed forward, pretending to rebuke
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Speaker 1: his companions. Oh, you greedy ones, he cried, How often
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Speaker 1: have I told you not to be so importune? Yet
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Speaker 1: you crowed upon him like wasps. Upon a date presuming
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Speaker 1: upon the goodness of his heart. And when there is
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Speaker 1: no more room, you crowd upon each other. Forgive them, oh, Abdullah,
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Speaker 1: he said, addressing him directly, for they have the appetite
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Speaker 1: of jackals, together with the understanding of little children. They
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Speaker 1: would thrust into the dish a hand as small as
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Speaker 1: a crow's foot, and withdraw it looking as big as
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Speaker 1: a camel's hoof their manners are also, my friend, said Abdullah.
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Speaker 1: I will give what I can. Let me therefore pass on,
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Speaker 1: for my business is of importance that the throng is
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Speaker 1: so great that I cannot move a step Tomorrow, I
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Speaker 1: will distribute much alms to you. All the radiance of
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Speaker 1: your merciful countenance is enough for us, replied the sheep
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Speaker 1: of the beggars, And even I who am blind, comforted
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Speaker 1: by its rays as by those of the sun in spring.
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Speaker 1: And my hunger is appeased by the honey of your
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Speaker 1: incomparable eloquence, my friend, said Abdullah, interrupting him again. I
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Speaker 1: pray you to let me go forward now for a
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Speaker 1: very important matter at hand. Though it was with difficulty
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Speaker 1: that I tear myself away from your society, and I
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Speaker 1: would willingly listen much longer to the words of the wise.
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Speaker 1: Then the blind man turned to the other beggars, and
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Speaker 1: his hearing told him that by this time there were
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Speaker 1: at least three score in the streets. Come, my brothers,
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Speaker 1: he cried, Let us accompany our bete fact to the
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Speaker 1: house of his friend, and afterwards we will wait for
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Speaker 1: him and see that he reaches his own dwelling in safety.
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Speaker 1: Surely it is not fitting that a sheek of such
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Speaker 1: great consideration should go up with the streets at night
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Speaker 1: without so much as an attendant carrying a lantern. Let
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Speaker 1: us go with him now, these last words, with a
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Speaker 1: signal agreed upon. And even as Abdula would get to
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Speaker 1: protest that he desired no such honorable escort as the
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Speaker 1: beggars offered him, one came from behind and suddenly drew
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Speaker 1: a thick barley sack over his head, so that his
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Speaker 1: voice was heard no more, and he was dragged down
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Speaker 1: by the throat, while the one eyed hunchback caught him
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Speaker 1: with the legs and bound his feet, and four others
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Speaker 1: laid hold of his hands and tied them firmly behind him.
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Speaker 1: Nor had all lost the time to utter a single
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Speaker 1: cry before she was bound handed foot with her head
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Speaker 1: in his sack like her husband. Then at a signal,
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Speaker 1: the beggars took up the two as though they had
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Speaker 1: been bales packed ready for the camel's back, and carried
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Speaker 1: them swiftly into the darkness towards the eastern gate, where
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Speaker 1: the blind man lived in a ruined house, together with
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Speaker 1: three or four of his most trusted companions. He also
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Speaker 1: sent a messenger to his relation, the Bedouin, as had
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Speaker 1: been agreed. It was already quite dark in the streets,
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Speaker 1: and the few persons who met the beggars did not
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Speaker 1: see what they were carrying, nor asked questions of them,
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Speaker 1: merely supposing that they had lingered long in the public
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Speaker 1: square after evening prayers and were now returning in a
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Speaker 1: body to their own quarter. The blind man's house was
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Speaker 1: built of three rooms and a wall, standing in a
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Speaker 1: square around a small court, but only one of the
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Speaker 1: rooms had a roof of its own, though there was
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Speaker 1: a sort of cellar under the floor of one of
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Speaker 1: the others, which served at once as a lodging for
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Speaker 1: beggars in winter, as the storehouse for food when there
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Speaker 1: was any in supply, in a place of deposit for
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Speaker 1: the ancient iron chest to which the common fund of
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Speaker 1: money was kept. To this vault, the Sheik of the
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Speaker 1: Beggars made his companions bring the two prisoners, and having
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Speaker 1: set them on the floor side by side, he proceeded
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Speaker 1: to hold a council, in which the captains themselves had
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Speaker 1: no part, since their heads were tied up in the
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Speaker 1: dusty barley sacks, and they could not speak, so as
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Speaker 1: to be hurt. Oh, my brothers, said the blind man.
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Speaker 1: Allah has delivered the enemies of the kingdom into our hand,
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Speaker 1: and is necessary to decide what we will do with them.
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Speaker 1: Let the oldest and the wisest give their opinions first,
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Speaker 1: and after them the others, even to the youngest and
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Speaker 1: last of all, I will speak, and let us see
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Speaker 1: whether we can agree. Let's kill the man and bury him,
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Speaker 1: and it cast lots among us. For the woman, said one, No,
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Speaker 1: said the next, a man who had twice made the
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Speaker 1: pilgrimage and was much respected. We cannot do this, for
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Speaker 1: the man is a true believer, and evil will befall
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Speaker 1: us if we shed his blood. Let us rather keep
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Speaker 1: him here and purify us. Hide every day with our
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Speaker 1: staffs until colett is in no more danger. Then will
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Speaker 1: take him to the palace and deliver him up. It
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Speaker 1: is to be feared, said the cheek of the beggars,
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Speaker 1: that the man might change to die of this sort
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Speaker 1: of purification, though indeed it is very wholesome for him,
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Speaker 1: and I am not altogether against it. Let us make
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Speaker 1: him our slaves, said a third, who had himself been
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Speaker 1: a slave of a poor man who had died without heirs.
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Speaker 1: The fellow is strong. Let us buy millstones and make
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Speaker 1: him grind barley for us in this cellar. In this
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Speaker 1: way he will not eat our food for nothing. After this,
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Speaker 1: many others gave advice of the same kind. But while
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Speaker 1: they were talking there was a great clattering and noise
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Speaker 1: on the stone steps which led down into the cellar,
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Speaker 1: and the man fell over the last step and rolled
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Speaker 1: over and over into the very midst of the council,
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Speaker 1: railing and lamenting. It is that ass of Egypt's, the
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Speaker 1: Shiekh of the beggars. I know him by the clattering
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Speaker 1: of the wooden hooves he wears on his hands, and
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Speaker 1: also by his brain. Let him also give his opinion
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Speaker 1: when he has recovered from his fall. It is strange
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Speaker 1: and marvelous, said one, that he who has no legs
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Speaker 1: should suffer so many falls, being by the will of
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Speaker 1: Allah always upon the earth. For when we first saw him,
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Speaker 1: we found him fainting upon the ground, having fallen from
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Speaker 1: the wall of the garden, though no man could tell
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Speaker 1: how he had climbed upon it. I have been transported
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Speaker 1: to the top of the walls in a dream, replied
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Speaker 1: the cripple, For there were dates in that garden, but
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Speaker 1: having eaten too greedily of them, I fell asleep on
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Speaker 1: the top, and I dreamed that my body was torn
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Speaker 1: by hyaenas, and waking suddenly I fell down, for the
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Speaker 1: dates were yet green. This may or may not be true,
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Speaker 1: said the blind man, But you are an Egyptian. Let us, however,
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Speaker 1: hear what you have to advise in the matter of
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Speaker 1: Abdullah and his wife, whom we have taken prisoner. I
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Speaker 1: fear that you mocked me, Lord, answered the man. But
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Speaker 1: if I am mocked, I will advise that this Abdullah
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Speaker 1: be also made a sport of for us first and
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Speaker 1: for the people of Riyad afterwards. Tell us how this
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Speaker 1: may be done. For a good jest is better than
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Speaker 1: salt for roasting. And the sheep lie here bound before us.
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Speaker 1: Take this man, then, said the cripple, and uncover his
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Speaker 1: face and hold him fast. Then let one of us
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Speaker 1: get the razor and shave off all his beard and
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Speaker 1: his eyebrows, and the hair of his head, even to
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Speaker 1: the nape of his neck. Then if he came suddenly
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Speaker 1: before her who bore him and cried mother, she would
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Speaker 1: cover her face and answer, begone now, ostrich egg, for
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Speaker 1: she would not know him. And tomorrow we will take
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Speaker 1: his excellent clothes from him and put him on our sheet.
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Speaker 1: But we will dress up Duela in rags such as
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Speaker 1: would not serve to wipe the mud from the slave's
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Speaker 1: shoes in the time of subsiding waters. And we will
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Speaker 1: tie his hands under his armpits and put a halter
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Speaker 1: over his head, and lead him about the city. Then
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Speaker 1: he will cry out against us to the people, saying
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Speaker 1: that he is Abdullah. But we will also cry out
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Speaker 1: in answer. See this man, man who believes himself with
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Speaker 1: the Sheik of bedwinds, though Allah has given him no beard,
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Speaker 1: O people, for Yad, you may know, did the spring
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Speaker 1: has come by the braying of this hass Yet I
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Speaker 1: see now that they may be wisdom and braidings to
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Speaker 1: the Sheikh of the Beggars. The Boulam in Bure shut
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Speaker 1: his eyes against it, and was punished for his cursing,
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Speaker 1: so that his tom hung down to his breast all
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Speaker 1: his days, like that of a thirsty dog. This is
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Speaker 1: a good counsel, for in this way we shall not
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Speaker 1: shed the man's blood, nor render ourselves guilty of his death.
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Speaker 1: But I think we shall earn a great reward from Colette,
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Speaker 1: and his kingdom will be saved and lefter. During all
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Speaker 1: this time, Abdullah was not moved, knowing that he was
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Speaker 1: in the power of many enemies and beyond all reach
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Speaker 1: of hell. But when he heard the decision of the
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Speaker 1: Sheikh of the Beggars, he was filled with shame and
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Speaker 1: rolled himself from side to side upon the floor. As
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Speaker 1: they're trying to escape from the bonds that held him. Almasta,
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Speaker 1: for her part, lay quietly where they had put her,
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Speaker 1: for she saw that all chance of success was gone,
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Speaker 1: was pondering how she might take advantage of what had
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Speaker 1: happened to save herself. Then the beggars laid hold of
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Speaker 1: Abdullah and held him while others took the sack from
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Speaker 1: his head. He was indeed half smothered with dust, so
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Speaker 1: that at first he could not speak loud, but coughed
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Speaker 1: and sneezed, like a dog that had thrust its nose
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Speaker 1: into a dust heap to find the bone which is
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Speaker 1: hidden underneath. But presently he recovered his breath and began
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Speaker 1: to rail at them and curse them to this. They
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Speaker 1: paid no attention, but brought the oil lamp near him,
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Speaker 1: and one began to rub soak upon his face and head,
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Speaker 1: while another got the razor with which the beggars shaved
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Speaker 1: their heads, and began to wet it upon the leather girdle.
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Speaker 1: Do not waste the precious stones of your elegance upon
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Speaker 1: the barbers oft the shak of the beggars, but reserve
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Speaker 1: your breath and the rich treasures of your speech until
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Speaker 1: you are brought as a plucked bird for the people
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Speaker 1: over yacht. Moreover, we only wish to shave off your beard,
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Speaker 1: but if you are restless, some of your hide will
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Speaker 1: certainly be removed also, whereby you will be hurt, and
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Speaker 1: it will be still harder for your friends to recognize
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Speaker 1: you tomorrow. It is also useless to shout out and
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Speaker 1: scream as though you were driving camels, for you were
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Speaker 1: in the cellar of my house, which is at a
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Speaker 1: good distance from other habitations on the borders of the city.
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Speaker 1: So Abdullah saw that there was no escape and that
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Speaker 1: his fate was about his neck, and he sat still
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Speaker 1: as they placed him, while the one eyed hunchback shaved
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Speaker 1: off his beard and the hair on his upper lip,
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Speaker 1: and his eyebrows, and a lock at the back of
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Speaker 1: his head. When this was done, the blind man put
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Speaker 1: out his hand to feel a Dullah's face. Surely, he said,
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Speaker 1: this is not a man's head, but the round end
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Speaker 1: of a walking staff were of smooth by much use.
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Speaker 1: They also tied his hands under his armpits and put
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Speaker 1: about him a ragged shirt with sleeves, so they seem
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Speaker 1: to have lost both arms to the elbow. This is
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Speaker 1: very well done, said the hunchback, turning his head from
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Speaker 1: side to side in order to see all with his
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Speaker 1: one eye. But what shall we do with the woman?
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Speaker 1: Let us cast lots for her, for he who wins
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Speaker 1: her shall marry her. And we will hold the feast immediately,
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Speaker 1: for we have not yet sucked, and there is some
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Speaker 1: of the camel's meat which we received today at the palace.
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Speaker 1: Oh my brothers answered the sheek of the beggars. Let
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Speaker 1: us do nothing unlawful in our haste, for this woman
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Speaker 1: is certainly one of Abdullah's wives, as you may see
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Speaker 1: by her clothes, and unless he divorces her, none of
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Speaker 1: us can take her for ourselves, seeing that she is
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Speaker 1: the wife of a believer. Take the sack from her head, however,
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Speaker 1: and she deafens us with her screaming, We can put
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Speaker 1: it on again, but you must, by no means put
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Speaker 1: her to shame by taking a veil from her face,
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Speaker 1: For she be an honest wife, though her husband be
16:04
Speaker 1: a dog. If she has done well, we shall find
16:07
Speaker 1: it out, and no harm will come to her. But
16:10
Speaker 1: if she is a share in his fellow's plans, her
16:12
Speaker 1: punch will be grievous, since she will be the wife
16:14
Speaker 1: of an outcast, having neither beard nor eyebrows, and rejected
16:17
Speaker 1: by all men. Some of the beggars murmured at this,
16:21
Speaker 1: but some of them praised their Sikh's wisdom, and would
16:23
Speaker 1: indeed have feared greatly to break the Holy law. Being
16:25
Speaker 1: chiefly devout men who prayed daily in the mosque and
16:28
Speaker 1: listened to the Kappa on Friday, they therefore placed Almasta
16:32
Speaker 1: in one corner of the cellar and Abdullah in another,
16:34
Speaker 1: so that the two could not converse together. Then they
16:37
Speaker 1: took out such food as they had and begin to
16:39
Speaker 1: eat their supper, laughing and talking over the jest and
16:41
Speaker 1: anticipating the reward which waited them for saving Colette. In
16:46
Speaker 1: the meanwhile, the night was advancing, and many of Adula's
16:49
Speaker 1: friends left their houses secretly and gathered in the neighborhood
16:51
Speaker 1: of the palace to wait for the first signal from within.
16:55
Speaker 1: By threes and by twos and singly, they came out
16:57
Speaker 1: of their dwellings, looking to the right left to see
16:59
Speaker 1: whether they were not the first, as men do who
17:02
Speaker 1: are not sure of being in the right. All had
17:04
Speaker 1: their swords with them, and some their bows also, and
17:07
Speaker 1: some few carried their spears, and they made no secret
17:10
Speaker 1: of their bearing weapons. But under each man's elbow was
17:12
Speaker 1: concealed the largest barley sack he could find in his house.
17:15
Speaker 1: And concerning this, no one of the multitude said anything
17:18
Speaker 1: to his neighbor, for each hope to get a greater
17:20
Speaker 1: share than the others with the gold and precious stones
17:22
Speaker 1: from the fabulous treasure store in the palace. Then most
17:26
Speaker 1: of these men sat down to wait, as vultures do
17:28
Speaker 1: before the camels quite dead. But not long after the
17:31
Speaker 1: middle of the night they were joined by a great
17:33
Speaker 1: throng of bedwinds from Abdullah's tribe. These had been admitted
17:36
Speaker 1: into the city by the watchmen according to the agreement,
17:38
Speaker 1: and passed up the Great Street from the Hassa Gate
17:40
Speaker 1: in a close body, not speaking and making but little
17:43
Speaker 1: noise with their feet as they walked. Yet all of
17:46
Speaker 1: them together could be heard from a distance because there
17:48
Speaker 1: were so many, and the sounds like the night wind
17:50
Speaker 1: among the branches of dry palm trees. After them, other
17:54
Speaker 1: bedwinds came in from camps both near and far, some
17:56
Speaker 1: of them having made a half day's journey since sunset,
17:59
Speaker 1: And they surrounded the pals on all sides, and filled
18:01
Speaker 1: the Great Gate and the street which passed by the
18:03
Speaker 1: moss towards the dairyat Gate, and all the other approaches
18:05
Speaker 1: to the open square, sitting down wherever there was room,
18:08
Speaker 1: or standing up in the thick crowd. When they were
18:09
Speaker 1: too closely pressed to be at ease. They talked together
18:13
Speaker 1: from time to time in low tones, but when their
18:15
Speaker 1: voices rose above a whisper. Some man in authority hushed them,
18:18
Speaker 1: saying that the hour was time to come. By this time,
18:21
Speaker 1: Abdullah has slain Khaled, said some, And the daughter of
18:24
Speaker 1: the old Sultan is a prisoner. And by this time,
18:27
Speaker 1: said others, Abdullah is surely unlocking the treasure chamber and
18:30
Speaker 1: filling up barbysack with pearls and rubies. It is certain
18:33
Speaker 1: that he who slays the lion deserves his bride. But
18:36
Speaker 1: we hope that something will be left for us. Hush,
18:40
Speaker 1: said the voice of one moving in the darkness. Be patient,
18:42
Speaker 1: it is not yet time. Then for a space, A
18:45
Speaker 1: deep silence fell on the speakers, and they crouched in
18:48
Speaker 1: their places, watching the high black walls of the palace
18:51
Speaker 1: and marking the motion of the stars by the highest
18:53
Speaker 1: point of the tower. Before long, whispered words were heard again.
18:58
Speaker 1: It would have been more just if Abdullah had opened
18:59
Speaker 1: the gate to us as soon as he had slain Klette,
19:02
Speaker 1: for then we could have seen what he took. But
19:04
Speaker 1: now who shall tell us what share the riches he
19:06
Speaker 1: is hiding away in the more secret vaults. This is true,
19:10
Speaker 1: answered others. And besides, what need have we of Abdullah
19:14
Speaker 1: to help us? Into the palace. Surely we could have
19:16
Speaker 1: broken down the gates and slain the guards and lead
19:18
Speaker 1: himself without Abdullah's help. Yet we, for our part, would
19:22
Speaker 1: not shed the blood of a man who has always
19:24
Speaker 1: dealt very generously with us. Nor do we believe the
19:26
Speaker 1: story of the camels laid in secret and hal However,
19:30
Speaker 1: what is ordain will take place, and we shall undoubtedly
19:32
Speaker 1: receive plentiful gold merely for sitting here to wash the
19:35
Speaker 1: stars through the night. The stories of the camels is
19:39
Speaker 1: not true, said a certain man, speaking alone. For I
19:41
Speaker 1: was one of the drivers sent with them, And being hungry,
19:44
Speaker 1: we opened one of the bales on the way by allah.
19:46
Speaker 1: There was nothing but wheat in it, and it was
19:48
Speaker 1: white and good. But there was nothing else, not so
19:51
Speaker 1: much as a few small coins. Then there was the
19:54
Speaker 1: sound of a blow, and the man who was speaking
19:56
Speaker 1: was struck on the mouth, so that speech was interrupted.
20:00
Speaker 1: Peace and be silent, said a voice. Then who speak
20:02
Speaker 1: lies will receive no share with the rest when the
20:04
Speaker 1: time comes. But the man who had been struck was
20:08
Speaker 1: the strongest of all his tribe, though he who had
20:10
Speaker 1: struck him did not know it. And the man caught
20:12
Speaker 1: his assailant by the waist in the dark, and wrestled
20:15
Speaker 1: with him violently, being very angry, and broke his forearm
20:18
Speaker 1: and his collar bone, and several of his ribs. And
20:20
Speaker 1: when he had done with him, he threw him over
20:22
Speaker 1: his shoulders, so that he fell fainting and moaning three
20:24
Speaker 1: pieces away, Oh you who strike honest men in the
20:28
Speaker 1: mouth in the dark, you have been over rash, he cried.
20:31
Speaker 1: Go home and hide yourself, lest I recognize you and
20:33
Speaker 1: break such bones as you have still whole. This is
20:37
Speaker 1: well done, said one of the bystanders in a loud voice.
20:39
Speaker 1: For the story of the camel's laden secret with treasury
20:42
Speaker 1: is a lie. I also was with the drivers and
20:44
Speaker 1: ate of the wheat. Nor do I believe that Khallette
20:46
Speaker 1: is a robber and a Persian. We did not believe it, cried.
20:50
Speaker 1: A score of bed was together, and if we had
20:51
Speaker 1: come together, it is to get our share like other men,
20:54
Speaker 1: since they tell us that Kolette is dead. But now
20:56
Speaker 1: we believe that Abdullah shut himself into the palace and
20:58
Speaker 1: means to keep all for himself and is cheating us.
21:02
Speaker 1: These men were none of them of Abdullah's tribe, but
21:04
Speaker 1: as the voices grew louder. Abdullah's kinsmen came up and
21:07
Speaker 1: endeavored to quiet the growing tumble. The crowd had parted
21:10
Speaker 1: a little, and a strong man stood alone in the midst.
21:14
Speaker 1: We pray you to be patient, to Abdullah's men, for
21:16
Speaker 1: the time is at hand, and the false dawn has
21:18
Speaker 1: already passed, though you have not seen it, so that
21:21
Speaker 1: before long it will be day. Then the gates will
21:23
Speaker 1: be opened and you shall all go in. We have
21:26
Speaker 1: no need of your sheeks to open gates for us,
21:28
Speaker 1: said a strong man, in a voice that could be
21:29
Speaker 1: heard very far through the crowd. And moreover, it would
21:32
Speaker 1: be better if you do not strike any more of us,
21:34
Speaker 1: or by Allah, we will not only break your bones
21:36
Speaker 1: but shed your blood. At this there was a sullen cry,
21:39
Speaker 1: and men sprang to their feet and laid their hands
21:41
Speaker 1: upon their weapons. But a youth would come with abdullahs kinsmen,
21:44
Speaker 1: though not one of them, but very low over the
21:46
Speaker 1: man who had been thrown down, and then spoke out
21:49
Speaker 1: with a loud and laughing voice. Truly, they said, the
21:52
Speaker 1: crows lead people to the carcasses of dogs. He said,
21:56
Speaker 1: this fellow is of the family which murdered my father,
21:58
Speaker 1: upon whom may Allah send peace, nor will I see
22:01
Speaker 1: the bounds of moderation and justice. Thereupon the young man
22:05
Speaker 1: drew out his knife and immediately killed his father's enemy
22:07
Speaker 1: as he lay upon the ground. And then he withdrew
22:10
Speaker 1: quickly into the dark crowd, so that none knew him.
22:12
Speaker 1: But though there was only the light of the stars,
22:14
Speaker 1: and the multitude was great, many had seen the deed,
22:16
Speaker 1: and each man stood closer by his neighbor and grasped
22:18
Speaker 1: his weapon to be in readiness. The kingsmen of Abdullah,
22:21
Speaker 1: saw that they were separated from their own tribe, and
22:24
Speaker 1: drew back, warning the others to keep the peace and
22:26
Speaker 1: be silent, lest they should cut off their share of
22:28
Speaker 1: the spoil. But their voices trembled with fears of their
22:31
Speaker 1: own safety, and they were answered by scornful shouts and jeers.
22:35
Speaker 1: The young man says, well, that you are crows, cried
22:37
Speaker 1: the angry man, For you wish to keep the carcass
22:39
Speaker 1: for yourselves, Come and take it if you were able.
22:44
Speaker 1: Now Indeed, the quarrel, which had begun by the blow
22:46
Speaker 1: struck in the dark, spread suddenly to great dimensions, for
22:49
Speaker 1: the words spoken were caught up as grains of sand
22:51
Speaker 1: by the wind and blown into all the men's ears.
22:54
Speaker 1: Many were ready enough to believe that Abdullah had cared
22:56
Speaker 1: only for enriching himself and his tribe, And many more
22:58
Speaker 1: who had been persuaded to the enterprise by the hopes
23:00
Speaker 1: of game, turned again to the faith and Khaled as
23:03
Speaker 1: the dream of gold disappeared from their eyes. Yet Abdul's
23:05
Speaker 1: tribe were numerous, and it was easy to see that
23:07
Speaker 1: the dissensions grew into a strife of arms. The fight
23:10
Speaker 1: would be long and fierce on both sides. Then certain
23:14
Speaker 1: of those that were against Abdullah raised the cry that
23:16
Speaker 1: he had slain Khaled and escaped with the treasure by
23:18
Speaker 1: secret passages leading under the walls of the city, which
23:21
Speaker 1: passage was spoken of in old tales, though no one
23:23
Speaker 1: knew where to find it. But the multitude believed and
23:26
Speaker 1: pressed forward in a strong body, and began to beat
23:28
Speaker 1: against the ironbound gates to the palace with great stones
23:31
Speaker 1: and pieces of wood. That Bill's men came on fiercely
23:35
Speaker 1: to prevent them, but were opposed by many. And as
23:37
Speaker 1: the wing of night was lifted and the dawn drank
23:40
Speaker 1: the stars, the wide square was filled with the clashing
23:42
Speaker 1: of arms and the noise of a great tumult end
23:46
Speaker 1: of Chapter eleven,