RABIAH’S DEFENCE 373 
Fast rode the fleeing band, straight for the pass 
al-Khadid, 
Mother and daughters, wives, and Rabiah the 
only man, 
Fleeing for honor and life through lands of a 
vengeful tribe. , 
Sudden a moving cloud came swift o’er the hill 
behind. 
Dark rode the men of Sulaim, and Death rode 
dark in their midst. 
“Save us!” the mother cried. “O boy, thou 
must fight alone!” 
“ Hasten, ride!” he said, calm. “I only draw 
rein till a wind 
Blowing this dust away gives place to look for 
the foe.” 
His sisters moaned, “He deserts!” “Have 
you known it?” Rabiah cried. 
The women rode and rode. When the dust 
cleared, his arrows sprang 
Straight at the following foe : the pride of their 
host went down. 
Swift turned Rabiah his mare, and o’ertook his 
retreating kin, 
Halted and faced again as the men of Sulaim 
closed round. : 
Ever his mother called: “Charge thou once 
more, O son! 
Keep off their hands from us all; meet them 
with shaft on shaft.” 
