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

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  Speaker 1: By Francis Maryan Crawford, Chapter ten. The Sheikh of the
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  Speaker 1: beggars was an old man, blind from his childhood, but
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  Speaker 1: otherwise strong and full of health, delighting in quarrels and
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  Speaker 1: swift to handle his staff. He had at first become
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  Speaker 1: a beggar, being still a young man, for his father
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  Speaker 1: and mother had died without making provision for him, and
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  Speaker 1: he had no brothers. As he boasted that he was
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  Speaker 1: of a pure blood of the desert. On both sides,
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  Speaker 1: the other beggars jeered at him in the beginning, calling
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  Speaker 1: him even alshkhin derision, and sometimes stealing his food from him.
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  Speaker 1: But he beat them mightily, the just and the unjust
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  Speaker 1: together since he could not see, and acquired great consideration
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  Speaker 1: amongst them, after which he behaved generously, giving a share
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  Speaker 1: with the rest for the common good and something more.
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  Speaker 1: His companion has learned also that his story was true
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  Speaker 1: and his blood was as good as any. From Ajman
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  Speaker 1: to al Kara. For Bedwin of the same tribes, Abdullah,
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  Speaker 1: the husband of Almasta, came to see him not less
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  Speaker 1: than once every year, and called him brother and filled
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  Speaker 1: his sack with barley. This Bedwin was a person of
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  Speaker 1: consideration also as the beggar saw from his having a
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  Speaker 1: mare of his own, provided with a good saddle, and
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  Speaker 1: from his weapons. In the course of time, therefore the
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  Speaker 1: blind man grew great in the eyes of his fellows,
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  Speaker 1: until they called him sheikh respectfully and waited on him
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  Speaker 1: when he performed his ablutions, and he obtained over them
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  Speaker 1: supremacy as great as was Khaled's over the kingdom he governed.
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  Speaker 1: He was very wise, also acquainted with the interpretation of dreams,
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  Speaker 1: and able to recite various chapters of the Koran. It
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  Speaker 1: was even said he was able to distinguish a good
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  Speaker 1: man from a bad by the sound of his trick,
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  Speaker 1: though some thought he only heard a jingling of coins
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  Speaker 1: in the girdle, and judging by this, having a finer
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  Speaker 1: hearing than other men. At all events, he was often
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  Speaker 1: aware that a person able to give alms was approaching,
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  Speaker 1: while his companions were talking amongst themselves and noticed nothing,
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  Speaker 1: though they had eyes to see, being mostly only cripples
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  Speaker 1: and lepers. On a certain day in the spring, when
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  Speaker 1: the sun was beginning to be hot, and not long
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  Speaker 1: after Khaled had told Zahawai's story, many of the beggars
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  Speaker 1: were sitting in the eastern gate, by which the great
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  Speaker 1: road issues out of the city towards Hasa. They expected
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  Speaker 1: the coming of the first pilgrims every day, for the
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  Speaker 1: season was advancing. And now they sat talking together of
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  Speaker 1: the good prospects before them, and rejoicing that the winter
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  Speaker 1: was over, so that they would not suffer any more
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  Speaker 1: from the cold. There is a horseman on the road,
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  Speaker 1: said the sheikh of the beggars, interrupting the conversation. Oh,
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  Speaker 1: you to whom Allah has preserved the light of day,
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  Speaker 1: look forth and tell me who the rider is. It
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  Speaker 1: is undoubtedly a pilgrim, answered the young beggar, who was
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  Speaker 1: a stranger. But it found his way to read without legs.
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  Speaker 1: No man knew how ass of Egypt, replied the sheep, reprovingly,
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  Speaker 1: do pilgrims ride at a full gallop on speeds of
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  Speaker 1: pure blood. But though your eyes are open, your ears
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  Speaker 1: are deaf with a sleep of stupidity, from which there
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  Speaker 1: is no wakening. That is a good horse ridden by
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  Speaker 1: a light rider, Truly a man must catch be called
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  Speaker 1: Haji who gallops thus on the road to Mecca. Then
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  Speaker 1: the others looked, and at last one of them spoke
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  Speaker 1: a hunchback, having but one eye, but this one was keen.
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  Speaker 1: Oh Sheikh, he said, rejoice and praise Allah, for give
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  Speaker 1: is he whom you call your brother, who comes in
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  Speaker 1: from the desert to visit you. If that is the case,
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  Speaker 1: I will indeed give thanks, answered the blind man, For
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  Speaker 1: there's little in my barley sack, lessen my wallet, and
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  Speaker 1: nothing at all my stomach. All is gracious and compassionate.
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  Speaker 1: The hunchback's eye had not deceived him, and before long
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  Speaker 1: the bedwind dismounted at the gate and looked about until
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  Speaker 1: he saw the sheet of the beggars, who indeed had
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  Speaker 1: already risen to welcome him. When they had embraced, the
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  Speaker 1: Bedwind led the blind man along in the shadow of
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  Speaker 1: the eastern wall, until they were so far from the
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  Speaker 1: rest that they might freely talk without being overheard. Then
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  Speaker 1: they sat down together, and the mayor stood waiting before them. Oh,
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  Speaker 1: my brother, the bedwind began, was not my mother, the
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  Speaker 1: adopted daughter of your uncle, upon whom be peace? And
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  Speaker 1: have I not called you brother and filled your barley
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  Speaker 1: sack from time to time these many years? This is true,
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  Speaker 1: answered the sheek of the beggars. Allah will requite you
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  Speaker 1: with seventy thousand days of unspeakable bliss, for every grin
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  Speaker 1: of barley you have caused to pass my teeth. Be
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  Speaker 1: constant in prayer and in giving alms, says the Holy Book.
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  Speaker 1: And you shall find with Allah all the good which
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  Speaker 1: you have sent before you for your souls. And it
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  Speaker 1: is also said, give alms to your kindred, and to
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  Speaker 1: the poor, and to the orphans. I am also grateful
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  Speaker 1: for all you have done, and my gratitude shows as
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  Speaker 1: a palm tree in the garden of my soul, which
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  Speaker 1: is irrigated by your charity. It is well, my brother,
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  Speaker 1: it is well. I know the uprightness of your heart.
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  Speaker 1: And I have not ridden hither from the desert to
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  Speaker 1: count the treasure which may be in store from me
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  Speaker 1: in paradise. Allah knows the good as well as the evil.
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  Speaker 1: I have come for another purpose. But tell me first,
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  Speaker 1: what is the news in the city. I have no
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  Speaker 1: strange rumors afloat of flate concerning Koleid the Sultan. In
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  Speaker 1: each man's soul there are two wells, said the blind man.
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  Speaker 1: The one is the spring of truth, the other the
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  Speaker 1: fountain of lies. You are wise and full of years,
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  Speaker 1: said the Bedwin, and I understand your caution, for I
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  Speaker 1: also am not very young. But here we must speak plainly,
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  Speaker 1: for the time is short in which to act. A
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  Speaker 1: sandstorm is darkened the eyes of the men of the desert.
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  Speaker 1: They are saying that Khalid is a Shaya, a Persian,
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  Speaker 1: and a robber, and that he must be overthrown, and
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  Speaker 1: a man of our own people made king in his step.
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  Speaker 1: I have heard such a rumor. It is more than
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  Speaker 1: a rumor. The tribes are even now assembling towards Ryad,
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  Speaker 1: and before many days are pasted, the end will come.
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  Speaker 1: Abdullah is the chief mover in this But with your help,
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  Speaker 1: my brother, we will make his plotting empty, and his
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  Speaker 1: scheme and fruitless, as a twig of godda stuck in
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  Speaker 1: the sand, which will neither strike root nor bear leaves.
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  Speaker 1: When the Shikh of the Beggars heard that he was
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  Speaker 1: expected to give help in frustrating Abdullah's plans, he was
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  Speaker 1: troubled and much astonished. Shall the blind sheep go out
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  Speaker 1: and fight the lion? He inquired tremulously. Even so replied
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  Speaker 1: the Bedwin, unmoved, and moreover, without danger to himself, hear
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  Speaker 1: me first, Abdullah and his tribone camp in the low
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  Speaker 1: hills in a few days, as usual, but somewhat earlier
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  Speaker 1: than in the other years, and a great number of
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  Speaker 1: other bedwinds will be in the neighboring valleys at the
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  Speaker 1: same time. Then Abdullah will come into the city openly
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  Speaker 1: and go to his house with his wife and his slaves.
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  Speaker 1: And during several days he will receive the visits of
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  Speaker 1: his friends and return them and go to the palace
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  Speaker 1: and salute Kleed as though nothing were about to happen.
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  Speaker 1: But in the meantime he will make everything ready for
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  Speaker 1: his intention to go into the palace at night disguised
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  Speaker 1: in a woman's garment with his wife, and they will
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  Speaker 1: slay Khaled in his sleep and bind Zahawa and distribute
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  Speaker 1: much treasure among the guards and slaves. And before morning
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  Speaker 1: the city will be full of bedwinds already to proclaim
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  Speaker 1: Abdullah Sultan. And you alone can prevent this. But the
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  Speaker 1: blind man laughed in his beard. This is a good jest,
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  Speaker 1: he cried, you have sought out a valiant word to
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  Speaker 1: stand between the sultan and death. I am blind and
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  Speaker 1: old and a beggar, and you would have to stand
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  Speaker 1: in a path of Abdullah and a thousand armed men,
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  Speaker 1: They would certainly laugh as I do. Let me take
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  Speaker 1: with me a few lepers, and the Egyptian jackass without legs,
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  Speaker 1: who has flown among us lately, laying a locust out
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  Speaker 1: of the clear air. Verily their springs shall avail against
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  Speaker 1: the lances of the desert. This is no jest, my brother,
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  Speaker 1: answered the Bedwin gravely. Never I, or a hundred armed
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  Speaker 1: horsemen with me could do what you will do unhurt.
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  Speaker 1: But I will save Kaled for in the battle to pass.
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  Speaker 1: Before we came to Hayel last summer, when I had
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  Speaker 1: an arrow in my right arm and a spear thrust
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  Speaker 1: at my side, certain dogs of chamars encompassed me, and
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  Speaker 1: darkness was already descending upon my eyes. When Kalied rode
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  Speaker 1: in like a whirlwind of sides and said, four of
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  Speaker 1: them to hell, where they are now drinking molten brass
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  Speaker 1: like thirsty camels. Then I swore by Allah that I
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  Speaker 1: would defend him in the hour of need. Why do
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  Speaker 1: you not then lie in wait for Abdul yourself and
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  Speaker 1: slay him as he passes you in the dark. Is
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  Speaker 1: he not the sheikh of my tribe? How then, can
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  Speaker 1: I lay a hand on him. But I have thought
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  Speaker 1: of this during many nights of my tent, and you
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  Speaker 1: alone can do what is needed. Surely this is folly,
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  Speaker 1: said the Sheikh of the Betars. You have met a
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  Speaker 1: hot wind in the desert, and your mind is unsettled
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  Speaker 1: by it. I pray you come with me into the
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  Speaker 1: city to my dwelling and take some more freshmen, or
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  Speaker 1: at least let me send to the well for a
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  Speaker 1: drink of water. My head is cool and I am
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  Speaker 1: not thirsty, nor is the hot wind blowing at this
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  Speaker 1: time of a year. Hear me. I will tell you
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  Speaker 1: how to save Khaled from destruction, and you shall receive
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  Speaker 1: more gold than you have dreamed of, and the house
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  Speaker 1: and rich garments, and the young wife of a good
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  Speaker 1: family to comfort your old age. For the deed is
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  Speaker 1: easy and safe, but the reward will be great. And
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  Speaker 1: you alone can do the one and earn the other.
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  Speaker 1: I perceive, said the blind man, that you are indeed
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  Speaker 1: in earnest, But I cannot understand what I can do.
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  Speaker 1: We know that Khlet is forewarned, for it is not
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  Speaker 1: many days. And see some of the chief men in
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  Speaker 1: riad with the Khadi to the palace and refuse tell
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  Speaker 1: them the name of his father, but said if they
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  Speaker 1: attacked him, he would kill as many of them as
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  Speaker 1: he could. I did not know this, answered the Bedwin.
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  Speaker 1: But the knowledge does not change my plan. Now hear me.
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  Speaker 1: You are the sheikh of all the beggars in Riad.
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  Speaker 1: May Allah send you long life and much grain. They
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  Speaker 1: are an army, and you are a captain. Moreover, the
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  Speaker 1: beggars are doubtles attached to Khalt by his generosity. And
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  Speaker 1: all of you say in your hearts that under Abdullah
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  Speaker 1: there may be more sticks and less barley for you.
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  Speaker 1: This is true. But then, my brother, it is otherwise
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  Speaker 1: with you, for you are of Abdullah's tribe and will
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  Speaker 1: have honor and riches if he has made sultan. How man,
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  Speaker 1: is my advantage also yours? And did not this Abdullah
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  Speaker 1: in the first place divorce with ignomy his second wife,
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  Speaker 1: who is my kinswoman, being the daughter of my father's sister.
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  Speaker 1: And has he restored the dowry as the law commands. Truly,
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  Speaker 1: his new wife is even now sitting upon my cousin's carpet.
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  Speaker 1: And secondly, Abdullah made himself shikh unjustly, for Arschik would
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  Speaker 1: be Abdul Kharim's son. That you accept Abdullah and promise
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  Speaker 1: an allegiance. Does the camel say to his driver, I
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  Speaker 1: do not like to carry a load of barley. I
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  Speaker 1: would rather bear a basket of dates. Eat what you
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  Speaker 1: please in your tent, but dresses other men, says the proverb,
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  Speaker 1: hear me, for I speak wisdom. Abdullah will come to
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  Speaker 1: the city and go to his house, intend to prepare
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  Speaker 1: the way for evil. And he will walk about the
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  Speaker 1: streets as usual without attendance, both because he knows that
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  Speaker 1: the people are mostly with him, and also in order
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  Speaker 1: not to attract notice. But Abdullah is the spring from
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  Speaker 1: which all this wickedness lows. He is the chief camel
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  Speaker 1: whom the others follow. The coal and the ashes by
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  Speaker 1: which the fire is kept alive. The head, without which
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  Speaker 1: the body cannot live, dry up the spring. Therefore, let
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  Speaker 1: the chief camel fall into a pit, suddenly, extinguish the coal,
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  Speaker 1: strike off the head. Let them ask in the morning
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  Speaker 1: where is he, and let him not be found anywhere.
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  Speaker 1: Then the people will be amazed, and they will not
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  Speaker 1: know what to do, having no leger. This is for
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  Speaker 1: you to do, and it could be easily done what
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  Speaker 1: folly is this, asked the blind man, shaking his head.
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  Speaker 1: How can I do what you wish? It is very easy,
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  Speaker 1: for I know that you and your companions are as
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  Speaker 1: one man, living together for the common good. Go to
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  Speaker 1: the beggars, therefore, and tell them what I have told you,
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  Speaker 1: and be not afraid, for they will not betray you.
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  Speaker 1: And when Abdullah walks about the city alone, lie and
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  Speaker 1: wait for him, for you will easily catch him at a
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  Speaker 1: narrow street, And two or three score you can run
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  Speaker 1: after him, begging for alms, until he is surrounded on
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  Speaker 1: all sides. Then fall upon him and bind him, and
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  Speaker 1: take him secretly to one of your dwellings, and keep
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  Speaker 1: them there so that none find him until the storm
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  Speaker 1: has passed. And this way you will save Kleb in
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  Speaker 1: the kingdom. And when all is quiet, you can deliver
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  Speaker 1: him up to be a laughing stock at the palace
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  Speaker 1: and to all who believes in him, for there is
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  Speaker 1: nothing to fear. And I, from my part, am sure
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  Speaker 1: that Abdul Kharim Sun will immediately be made shakh of
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  Speaker 1: our tribe, so that Abdullah will not return to us.
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  Speaker 1: You are subtle, my brother, said the Sheikh of the beggars,
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  Speaker 1: smiling and stroking his beard. This is a good plan,
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  Speaker 1: being very simple, and cled will be grateful to us
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  Speaker 1: and honor us. Beggars exceedingly said, I'm not well that
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  Speaker 1: the jest was good. Surely is better than I had thought,
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  Speaker 1: and more profitable. I have thought of it long in
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  Speaker 1: the nights of winter, both by the campfire and in
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  Speaker 1: my tent, and on the march. But I have told
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  Speaker 1: no one, nor will tell anyone until all is done.
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  Speaker 1: But as soon as you have taken Abdullah and hidden him,
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  Speaker 1: let me know of it. To this end, when we
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  Speaker 1: are camped outside the city, I will come every evening
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  Speaker 1: to prayers in the great Mosque, and afterwards will wait
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  Speaker 1: for you near the door. As soon as I know
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  Speaker 1: that Abdullah's out of finding, I will spread the report
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  Speaker 1: that he has lost, and before long all our tribe
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  Speaker 1: will give up the search, being indeed glad to get
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  Speaker 1: rid of him. And the rest is in the hand
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  Speaker 1: of Allah. I have done what I can. You must
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  Speaker 1: now do your share. By Allah, you shall not complain
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  Speaker 1: of me, answered the blind man, nor of my people,
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  Speaker 1: for the jest is surpassingly good and shall be well
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  Speaker 1: carried out. I will therefore, go into the city where
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  Speaker 1: I have business, said the Bedmin, For I gave a
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  Speaker 1: reason for coming alone to Riyad, and must needs show
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  Speaker 1: myself there to those who know me. So the Bedwin
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  Speaker 1: filled the blind beggar's sack with barley and dates from
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  Speaker 1: his own supply, and embraced him and went into the city.
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  Speaker 1: But the Sheikh of the beggars remained sitting in the
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  Speaker 1: same place for some time, at a distance from the
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  Speaker 1: rest and an attitude of inward contemplation, though he was
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  Speaker 1: in reality listening to what the hunchback was telling the
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  Speaker 1: new cripple from Egypt. The Sheik's ears were sharper than
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  Speaker 1: those of the other men, and he heard very clearly
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  Speaker 1: what was said. This Bedwin said, the hunchback is a
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  Speaker 1: near relation of our Sheikh, and holds him in great veneration,
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  Speaker 1: coming frequently to see him from a considerable distance, and
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  Speaker 1: always bringing him a present food. And you may see
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  Speaker 1: by his mayor and by his weapons, that he is
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  Speaker 1: a person of consideration in his tribe. For Arshik is
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  Speaker 1: not a negro nor the son of a Syrian camel driver,
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  Speaker 1: but an Arab of the best blood in the desert,
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  Speaker 1: and wise enough to sit in the council of the
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  Speaker 1: Sultan's palace. You were but lately arrived, being transported into
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  Speaker 1: our midst by the mercy of Allah. Must learn all
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  Speaker 1: these things, and you will also find out that Rashikh
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  Speaker 1: has eyes in his ears, and his fingers and his staff,
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  Speaker 1: though he is counted blind. But you cannot deceive him
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  Speaker 1: easily as you might suppose. The Shikh the beggars was
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  Speaker 1: pleased when he heard this, and listen attentively to hear
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  Speaker 1: the answer to me by the Egyptian, whom he did
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  Speaker 1: not yet trust because he was a newcomer and a stranger.
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  Speaker 1: Truly replied the gripple, all husband, merciful and compassionate to me,
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  Speaker 1: for he has brought me into society of the wise
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  Speaker 1: and the good, which is better than much feasting in
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  Speaker 1: the company of the ignorant and the ill mannered. And
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  Speaker 1: as for the Sheikh, he is evidently a very holy man,
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  Speaker 1: to whom eyes are not in any way necessary, his
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  Speaker 1: inward sight being constantly fixed upon heavenly things. The answer
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  Speaker 1: did not altogether please them blind man, for it savored
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  Speaker 1: somewhat of flattery. But the other beggars approved of the
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  Speaker 1: speech deeming them as showed a submissive spirit and readiness
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  Speaker 1: to obey and respect their chief. Oh, you of Egypt,
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  Speaker 1: cried the sheep, calling to him, come here and sit
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  Speaker 1: beside me, for I've heard what you said and desire
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  Speaker 1: your company. The cripple immediately began to crawl on the wall,
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  Speaker 1: dragging himself upon his hands and body, for he had
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  Speaker 1: no legs. He is obedient, thought the blind man, though
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  Speaker 1: it costs him much labor to move. When the man
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  Speaker 1: was beside him, the sheet took an onion and a
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  Speaker 1: date from his wallet and set them down upon the ground. Eat,
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  Speaker 1: he said, and give thanks. The cripple thanked him, and,
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  Speaker 1: taking the food, began to eat the onion. You have
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  Speaker 1: taken the onion in your right hand and the date
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  Speaker 1: in your left, to the Sheik, and you are eating
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  Speaker 1: the onion first. That is true, answered the Egyptian. I
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  Speaker 1: see that my lord has indeed eyes in his fingers,
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  Speaker 1: I have said the Sheik. But that is not all,
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  Speaker 1: for this is an allegory. All men like to eat
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  Speaker 1: the onion first and the date afterwards. For though the
• 14:59
  Speaker 1: onion be ever so sweet and tender, its tastes bitter.
• 15:01
  Speaker 1: When a man has eaten sugar dates before it. But
• 15:04
  Speaker 1: you have begun by giving us the mellow fruit of flattery,
• 15:07
  Speaker 1: and when you give us the wholesome vegetable of truth,
• 15:09
  Speaker 1: it will be too sharp for our palates. Ponder this
• 15:12
  Speaker 1: from your heart. Chew it as the camel does her cut,
• 15:15
  Speaker 1: and the well digested food of wisdom shall nourish your understanding.
• 15:20
  Speaker 1: The cripple listen in astonishment at the death of the
• 15:22
  Speaker 1: Sheikh's thought, and he would have spoken out his admiration.
• 15:25
  Speaker 1: But it's not possible to eat an onion and to
• 15:27
  Speaker 1: be eloquent at the same time. The blind man knew
• 15:30
  Speaker 1: this and continued to give him instruction. The onion has
• 15:33
  Speaker 1: saved you, he said, for your mouth being full, you
• 15:35
  Speaker 1: could say nothing flattering. And now you will think before
• 15:37
  Speaker 1: you speak. Consider how I have treated you. If I
• 15:41
  Speaker 1: at once rendered thanks to Allah for sending into our
• 15:43
  Speaker 1: midst a young man whose gift of eloquence are at
• 15:45
  Speaker 1: least equal to those of the Kadi himself, I have
• 15:49
  Speaker 1: said nothing so foolish. I've called you an ass of Egypt,
• 15:51
  Speaker 1: and otherwise rebuked you for the good of your understanding.
• 15:54
  Speaker 1: Though I begin to think that you are indeed a
• 15:56
  Speaker 1: very estimable young man, and it is possible that your
• 15:58
  Speaker 1: wit may ripen in our society. But now I perceive
• 16:02
  Speaker 1: from a hearing that you are eating a date. I
• 16:04
  Speaker 1: pray you now eat another onion after him. I cannot
• 16:07
  Speaker 1: answered the cripple, for my lips are puckered to the
• 16:09
  Speaker 1: thought of it. Neither is truth sweet after flattery, said
• 16:14
  Speaker 1: the sheikh, who then began to eat the other onion himself.
• 16:18
  Speaker 1: I will endeavor to profit by your precipts, my lord,
• 16:20
  Speaker 1: replied the Egyptian. Allah will then certainly enlighten you, my son.
• 16:25
  Speaker 1: Remember also another thing. We are ourselves here a community
• 16:28
  Speaker 1: distinct from the citizens of Ryad, and what we do
• 16:31
  Speaker 1: we do for the common good. Remember therefore, to share
• 16:34
  Speaker 1: what you receive with the rest, as they will share
• 16:36
  Speaker 1: what they have with you, and take part with him,
• 16:39
  Speaker 1: and whatsoever is done by common consent. In this way,
• 16:42
  Speaker 1: it may be well with you, and you shall grow fat.
• 16:45
  Speaker 1: But if you are against us, you will find evil
• 16:47
  Speaker 1: in every man's hand. For since it has pleased a
• 16:49
  Speaker 1: lot to give you no legs, you cannot possibly run away.
• 16:54
  Speaker 1: Having said this much, the Sheikh of the Beggars was silent,
• 16:56
  Speaker 1: but afterwards on the same day he gathered about him,
• 16:58
  Speaker 1: the strongest of the companions, being mostly men who had
• 17:01
  Speaker 1: the use of both arms and both legs, though some
• 17:04
  Speaker 1: of them were lepers, and some have but one eye,
• 17:06
  Speaker 1: and some were deaf and dumb. According to the affliction
• 17:08
  Speaker 1: in which he had pleased Allah to descend upon each,
• 17:11
  Speaker 1: these were the most trusty and faithful of his people,
• 17:14
  Speaker 1: And to them he communicated openly with the bed when
• 17:16
  Speaker 1: had proposed to him in secret. All of them improved
• 17:19
  Speaker 1: the plan for the greatly fear of the overthrow of Kolet.
• 17:23
  Speaker 1: But said one, we cannot keep this Abdullah forever, and
• 17:26
  Speaker 1: we could surely not kill him, for we should bring
• 17:28
  Speaker 1: upon ourselves a grievous punishment. Allah forbid that we should
• 17:32
  Speaker 1: shed blood, replied the sheep. But when Abdul Karim's son
• 17:35
  Speaker 1: is made shikh of the tribe, Abdullah will probably not
• 17:37
  Speaker 1: wish to go back to his people. Moreover, it shall
• 17:40
  Speaker 1: be for Kolet to judge or shall be done to
• 17:42
  Speaker 1: the man, and he will probably cut off his head.
• 17:45
  Speaker 1: But in the meantime, it is necessary to choose amongst
• 17:47
  Speaker 1: us spies two for each gate of the city, to
• 17:50
  Speaker 1: the number of twenty two men, to watch for Abdullah,
• 17:53
  Speaker 1: for we do not know when he will come, and
• 17:55
  Speaker 1: of the two spies who see him at there, both
• 17:57
  Speaker 1: must follow him and see whither he goes will immediately
• 18:00
  Speaker 1: inform all the rest, while the other waits for him.
• 18:03
  Speaker 1: From the time he enters the city. He will not
• 18:05
  Speaker 1: be able to go anywhere without our knowledge, and we
• 18:07
  Speaker 1: shall certainly catch him one day toward dusk in some
• 18:09
  Speaker 1: narrow street of the city. The beggar saw that this
• 18:13
  Speaker 1: plan was wise and safe for themselves, and they did
• 18:15
  Speaker 1: as Sheik advised, posting men at all the gates to
• 18:18
  Speaker 1: wait for Abdullah. He was indeed not far distant, and
• 18:22
  Speaker 1: before many days he rode into the city toward evening,
• 18:25
  Speaker 1: attended by a few slaves and two bedwins, his wife
• 18:27
  Speaker 1: on masta, riding in the midst of them upon a camel.
• 18:30
  Speaker 1: His face was not hidden, and the two beggars who
• 18:32
  Speaker 1: were watching recognize him immediately. They both followed him until
• 18:36
  Speaker 1: he entered his own house, and then the one sat
• 18:38
  Speaker 1: down in the street to watch him until he should
• 18:39
  Speaker 1: come out, asking alms of those who accompanied him, until
• 18:42
  Speaker 1: they also went in with the beasts. But the other
• 18:45
  Speaker 1: made haste to find the Sheikh and to inform him
• 18:47
  Speaker 1: that the Abdullah had come and was now in his
• 18:49
  Speaker 1: own dwelling. It is well said the blind man. The
• 18:54
  Speaker 1: cat is now asleep and dreams of mice, but he
• 18:56
  Speaker 1: shall wake in the midst of dogs. Abdullah will not
• 18:59
  Speaker 1: leave his house us tonight, for it is late, and
• 19:01
  Speaker 1: though he is not afraid in the daytime, he will
• 19:03
  Speaker 1: not go out much at night, lest the secret messenger
• 19:06
  Speaker 1: from Khaled, bearing evil in his hand, should meet him
• 19:08
  Speaker 1: by the way. But tomorrow, before dawn, some of us
• 19:12
  Speaker 1: will wait in the neighborhood of his house, and two
• 19:14
  Speaker 1: or three score of others, feigning to be all blind
• 19:16
  Speaker 1: as I am, must always be near at hand, watching us.
• 19:19
  Speaker 1: We will then begin to importune him for alms, flattering
• 19:22
  Speaker 1: him with fine language, as though he knew his plans.
• 19:25
  Speaker 1: And this we will do continually while he is abroad,
• 19:27
  Speaker 1: until one day. To escape from us, he will turn
• 19:29
  Speaker 1: quickly into a narrow street, supposing that we cannot see him,
• 19:33
  Speaker 1: for he will not wish to be pursued by our
• 19:34
  Speaker 1: cries in the bazaar, lest he is obliged for shame
• 19:37
  Speaker 1: to give something to each. Then those who can see
• 19:39
  Speaker 1: will open their eyes, and we will catch him in
• 19:41
  Speaker 1: the lane, and bind rags over his head so that
• 19:43
  Speaker 1: he cannot cry out, and lead him into my dwelling
• 19:45
  Speaker 1: by the Yemama gate. And if any meet us by
• 19:47
  Speaker 1: the way and inquire whom we are taking with us,
• 19:50
  Speaker 1: we will say that he is one of ourselves who
• 19:51
  Speaker 1: is an epileptic and has fallen down in a fit,
• 19:54
  Speaker 1: and that we are taking him to the farriers by
• 19:55
  Speaker 1: the gate, to be burned with red hot irons for
• 19:57
  Speaker 1: his recovery, as the physicians recommend in such cases. Surely
• 20:01
  Speaker 1: we have now foreseen most things. But if we have
• 20:03
  Speaker 1: forgotten anything, Allah will dells provided. All the beggars and
• 20:08
  Speaker 1: council approved this plan, for they saw that it could
• 20:10
  Speaker 1: be easily carried out if they can only catch Abdullah
• 20:13
  Speaker 1: in a lonely street at the hour of prayer when
• 20:15
  Speaker 1: few persons are passing. But Abdullah himself was ignorant of
• 20:18
  Speaker 1: the evil a store for him and feared nothing, having
• 20:21
  Speaker 1: been secretly informed that most of the better sort of
• 20:23
  Speaker 1: people were ready to support him if he would strike
• 20:25
  Speaker 1: the blow. For they suspected Khaled of being a trader,
• 20:28
  Speaker 1: especially since he had last addressed the chief men and
• 20:31
  Speaker 1: refused to tell him the name of his father. Abdullah
• 20:33
  Speaker 1: therefore came and went openly in the city. In the meantime, however,
• 20:37
  Speaker 1: Khaled was informed of his presence. It was warned of
• 20:39
  Speaker 1: the danger, the aged Kadi came secretly by night to
• 20:42
  Speaker 1: the palace and desired to be received by the Sultan
• 20:45
  Speaker 1: in order to communicate him news of great importance, as
• 20:47
  Speaker 1: he said. Kaled immediately received him, and the Kadi proceeded
• 20:51
  Speaker 1: to give a full account of Abdullah's designs. But the
• 20:53
  Speaker 1: Sultan expressed no astomigem. Let him do what he will,
• 20:57
  Speaker 1: he answered, for I care little, and after all what
• 21:00
  Speaker 1: must be will be. But I beseech you to consider,
• 21:04
  Speaker 1: said the Kadi, that by acting promptly, you could easily
• 21:06
  Speaker 1: quell this revolution in which I, by allah have no
• 21:10
  Speaker 1: part and will have none. For though many persons may
• 21:12
  Speaker 1: just now desire your overthrow because they expect to get
• 21:15
  Speaker 1: a share of the treasure in the confusion, if you
• 21:17
  Speaker 1: are disposed to accept such a man as Abdullah, if
• 21:19
  Speaker 1: been Mohammed al Harir in your place. Even his own
• 21:23
  Speaker 1: tribe are not all faithful to him. And I am
• 21:25
  Speaker 1: incredibly informed that many look upon him as an intruder
• 21:28
  Speaker 1: and would prefer the son of Abdul Karim, for shikh
• 21:30
  Speaker 1: as would be just if the rights of birth were considered,
• 21:33
  Speaker 1: and it would be an easy matter to remove this Abdullah,
• 21:36
  Speaker 1: I implore you to think of the matter. Would this
• 21:39
  Speaker 1: not be murder? Asked Kolette, looking curiously at the venerable preacher.
• 21:44
  Speaker 1: Allah is merciful and forgiving, replied the old man, looking
• 21:46
  Speaker 1: down and stroking his beard. And moreover, if you suffer
• 21:50
  Speaker 1: Abdullah to go about a few days longer, he will
• 21:52
  Speaker 1: certainly destroy you. Whereas it is an easy matter to
• 21:55
  Speaker 1: give him a cup of such good drink as will
• 21:56
  Speaker 1: save him from thirst ever afterwards, and you would obtain
• 22:00
  Speaker 1: quiet and the kingdom would be at peace. They shall
• 22:03
  Speaker 1: not find me sleeping, said Khaled, And so that I
• 22:05
  Speaker 1: may only slay a score of them first, I care
• 22:08
  Speaker 1: not how soon I perish. This is indeed a new
• 22:12
  Speaker 1: kind of madness, exclaimed the Kadi. I cannot understand it.
• 22:15
  Speaker 1: But I have done when I could, and I can
• 22:16
  Speaker 1: do nothing more. Nor is there anything more to be done,
• 22:19
  Speaker 1: said Khaled. But I thank you for it is clear
• 22:22
  Speaker 1: that you have spoken from a good intention. So the
• 22:24
  Speaker 1: Kadi went away, and Kled returned to Zahawa. Carry not
• 22:27
  Speaker 1: at all whether he lived or died. But Zahawa began
• 22:31
  Speaker 1: to watch him narrowly. If this man were a Persian,
• 22:35
  Speaker 1: an enemy and a traitor, she thought, he would now
• 22:37
  Speaker 1: begin to take measures for his own safety, seeing that
• 22:39
  Speaker 1: he is threatened on every side, but he does not
• 22:42
  Speaker 1: lift a hand to defend himself. This can proceed only
• 22:45
  Speaker 1: from one of two causes. Either he is a gin,
• 22:48
  Speaker 1: as he had told me, and they cannot kill him,
• 22:50
  Speaker 1: and so he does not fear them, or else he
• 22:52
  Speaker 1: desires death out of a sort of madness which he
• 22:54
  Speaker 1: has grown up in him through his love, of which
• 22:56
  Speaker 1: he is always speaking. End of Chapter ten