Caleb-esh-Sheytan 



little intelligence, bv name Caleb-esh-Sheytan, which, being 

 interpreted, signifies the Hound of Satan. He had long 

 arms and legs, a very broad back, all doubled up into an 

 expanse of shoulders on which you might have set a pack- 

 saddle. He was used as a beast of burden to carry off 

 plunder, being very swift and sure-footed on the mountains. 

 He was also of use in countenancing an idea that the 

 robber was assisted by Eblis, from his plausibly fiendish 

 appearance. 



This man, having been much beaten for attempts to pilfer 

 portions of the booty committed to his back (for, in that he 

 was so stupid, his defalcations were usually discovered), a 

 continual course of castigation had soured his temper, so 

 that the fuel of vengeance ready piled in the bedarkened 

 chamber of his heart, awaited only a spark from the forge 

 of suggestive invention to be kindled to a conflagration. 



What he wanted in ingenuity Aelfa supplied ; and she 

 despatched him with a letter to the king, further command- 

 ing Caleb to conduct the troops which would be intrusted 

 to his guidance by an unfrequented approach down a long 

 sloping corridor, whose mouth opened on the top of the 

 mountain. He had not been gone many hours, when she, 

 with that rapid decision of purpose which characterises 

 the female sex, changed her mind ; therefore, with tears 

 and contrition, she confessed her guilt, and disclosed the 

 plot. 



Having reproached her with the bitterest of reproaches, 

 and poured forth upon her head the uttermost revilings of 

 scorn, till the colour of her countenance was changed by 

 the blankness of her confusion and her shame, Sahib finally 

 forgave her, and they addressed themselves to prepare 

 against the enemy. He blocked up the passage with great 

 masses of rock, leaving a huge heap of subtile explosive 



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