Caravan trembling through fear

Sick and wounded he fell in with a caravan, which from necessity he followed. In the evening they arrived at a place that was infested by robbers. He saw the people of the caravan trembling through fear, and looking as if they expected to die. He said, “Be not afraid, for I am one amongst you who will encounter fifty men, and other men will support me.” The men, encouraged by his boasting, rejoiced at being in his company, and they supplied him with victuals and drink. The cravings of the young man’s appetite being very powerful, he ate and drank so much that at length the inner demon was quieted, and being overpowered with fatigue he fell asleep.

An old experienced man who had seen the world and was in the caravan, said, “0 companions, I am more afraid of your guard than of the robbers, for they tell a story of an Arab who, having collected together some money, would not sleep alone in his house, for fear of being robbed by the Lowrains, but got one of his friends to stay with him, from the apprehension he had of being alone. He stayed with him several nights; but, as soon as he got intelligence of the dimers, he seized them and made off.

The next morning, they saw the Arab despoiled lamenting. They asked, What can be the matter, excepting that the thieves may have stolen your money? He replied, ‘By God, not they; but the person who was the guard.’ I never thought myself secure from the serpent, because I knew his disposition.

A wound from the teeth of an enemy is most severe when it is given under the semblance of friendship. How do you know, my friends, but what this young man may be one of the thieves, who by stratagem has introduced himself amongst us, in order that, when he finds an opportunity, he may give intelligence to his comrades? My advice therefore is this, that we leave him asleep arid depart.”

The advice of the old man was approved by

his juniors; and as they were suspicious of this strong man, they took up their

baggage, and, leaving him asleep, departed. The young man, when the sun shone

on his shoulders, lifted up his head and discovered that the caravan was

departed. Lie wandered about a long time, without being able to find the road.

Thirsty and without food, he laid his head on the ground, in a state of

despondency: “Who will converse with me now that the yellow camels are departed?

A traveller has no friend besides a traveller. He is the readiest to distress a

traveller, who has not himself experienced the difficulties of travelling.” He

was uttering this sentence when the King’s son, having lost his attendants in

pursuit of game, happening to come to the spot, overheard him, and seeing him

of good appearance and in distressed circumstances, asked, from whence he was,

and how he came there? He gave a short account of what had befallen him ; and

the King’s son compassionating him, bestowed on him a garment and money, and

ordered a trusty person to accompany him, and see him safe to his own city. The

father was rejoiced at the sight of him, and thanked God for his safe return.