Arab's anecdotes. 259 



Bou Maza, who, pretending to be in a dying state, 

 begged that they would carry him out to a sward 

 where the cattle of the tribe were grazing, so that 

 he might turn his face towards the sacred city, and 

 perform his devotions. His wish was complied 

 with, and he soon had the gratification of behold- 

 ing this famous mare, cropping the stunted herbage 

 a short distance from the clump of date trees, 

 under the shade of which he was lying. She was 

 strictly watched by two of the tribe, who for two 

 hours hardly ever seemed to take their eyes off her ; 

 and Bou Maza began to think that the young men 

 would return before his undertaking could be ac- 

 complished ; he therefore uttered a loud cry, as if 

 in agony, which brought the watchers to his side, 

 and selecting his opportunity, he plunged a knife, 

 which he had concealed under his haic (dress), in 

 their breasts, killing them ere they could utter a 

 cry; and flinging his burnous over their bodies, 

 unfastened the tether which hobbled the mare's 

 fore feet, and, springing on her back, was far away 

 in the desert before the theft was discovered. 

 When it was found out, the Sheik, Ben Ali, whose 

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