202 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER. 



There was in the tribe of Negde a mare no less 

 renowned than Jabal's, which Daher, a man of 

 another tribe had bent his whole soul on possess, 

 ing. Having in vain offered his camels and all his 

 wealth for her, he determined to compass his ends by 

 stratagem. He stained his face with herbs, dressed 

 himself in rags, and tied up his legs so as to give him- 

 self the appearance of a crippled beggar. In this 

 plight, he laid himself down on a spot where he knew 

 that Nabee, the owner of the mare, would pass, and as 

 soon as he saw him, he began to implore piteously for 

 help, saying, he was unable to move, and was dying of 

 hunger. Nabee told the poor wretch to mount be- 

 hind him, and he would take him to his own tent, and 

 supply his wants. " May your bounty be extolled," 

 replied the pretended cripple, "but I am unable to 

 mount without assistance." Thereupon the com- 

 passionate Nabee dismounted, and with much difficulty 

 hoisted the suppliant into the saddle. As soon as 

 Daher felt himself firmly seated, he clapped heels to 

 the mare and started off, shouting, " I am Daher, and 

 your mare is mine." The plundered man called out 

 to him to stop, and hear what he had to say, and the 

 thief, knowing he was safe from pursuit, turned and 

 halted, just out of reach of Nabee's lance. "You 

 have seized my mare," said the latter ; " since it is 



