THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER. 191 



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 

 the will of Allah, I wish you prosperity, but I beseech 

 you do not tell any one how you came by her." 

 " And why not ?" said Daher. " Because another 

 person might be really afflicted and be left without 

 succor. Were you to tell the tale, the consequence 

 would be, that no one would do a single act of charity, 

 for fear of being duped like me." 



Struck by these words, Daher instantly dismounted, 

 restored the mare to her owner, and embraced him. 

 Nabee went home with him as his guest ; they 

 remained together three days, and became sworn 

 brothers. 



