NASSUK. 
159 
their saddles awaiting his return, and ready to start 
at a moment’s notice. 
Yakoob Lais was then about to seek out Dherm- 
ben-Nassuk, for the purpose of extorting from him 
some oath or bond of impunity, which might pro- 
tect him from future aggression, and to demand from 
him certain other advantages which he had resolved 
to obtain, or otherwise to assassinate him. He was 
in the act of turning from his followers to execute 
his purpose, when he struck his foot against some 
small thing, which went rattling along the polished 
pavement, and he observed it to sparkle. Thinking 
that nothing less than diamonds could have reflected 
light in such a dark place, he picked it up, and not 
knowing exactly what to make of it, he put it to 
his tongue. That little act, insignificant as it may 
appear, caused the immediate subversion of all his 
schemes, even at the moment of their complete 
accomplishment. Yakoob Lais had tasted the salt 
of Dherm-ben-Nassuk ; for the supposed jewel was 
in truth no other than a little lump of rock-salt. 
Though mortified and disappointed beyond descrip- 
tion, his avarice and revenge instantly gave way 
before his respect for what he esteemed to be an 
infrangible law of honour and hospitality. He com- 
manded his men to restore everything which had 
been carried away ; and having piled the bales of 
treasure and bundles of arms in a heap, he wrote in 
large characters upon the marble wall, with the 
