io THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER 



change, viz. several tents and slaves, forty camels, 

 and even his two wives ; but nothing would induce 

 Ben AH the Sheikh (who was the principal owner) 

 to part with her. Bou Maza, who was on friendly 

 terms with the Djdjhura tribes, then determined to 

 obtain her by stealth ; but this was a difficult opera- 

 tion, as there were always people watching night 

 and day. After many days' consideration, and severe 

 praying to Allah to sharpen his wits, he fixed upon 

 a plan, and forthwith proceeded to execute it. He cut 

 himself with a knife about the face and chest, and 

 wounded his horse ; and one day about noon claimed 

 the protection of Ben Ali the Sheikh, stating that he 

 had been attacked by some Arabs of a neighbouring 

 tribe, with whom there was a bloody feud, who were 

 lurking about in the vicinity. The Sheikh sent out 

 his young men to retaliate and follow up the sup- 

 posed aggressors, whilst he and the hakeem of the 

 tribe bound up the wounds and attended on 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 beholding 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 



