MEHAT. 
221 
horse of Omar Lais to place his rider at my disposal, 
is also able to supply the wants and repair the 
decayed equipments of my soldiers, without the guilt 
on my part of a breach of faith with his creatures.” 
This right confidence and honourable forbearance 
soon obtained its reward. 
One of the ladies of Ishmaebs family had taken 
off her necklace of rubies, and laid it upon the 
ground, while her attention was engaged by her 
infant. A kite, which happened to be hovering 
near, pounced upon and carried off the necklace, 
probably believing it to be a piece of meat. Aboo 
Akkur, who fortunately observed the robbery, 
immediately took horse, and watched the motions 
of the plunderer. After a long flight, the kite, find- 
ing himself disappointed in the value of his prize, 
let it drop from his talons, and it fell, as the finger 
of Providence directed, into a neighbouring well, in 
which there was at that time no water. Aboo 
Akkur forthwith dismounted, and caused himself 
to be lowered into the well, by means of the leathern 
bucket and windlass which was attached to it, and 
he soon discovered the necklace ; but not the neck- 
lace alone, for, at the bottom of the well, he found a 
vast cavern, in which were deposited a great number 
of chests and bales of goods, piled together. On 
examining these, he found them to be filled with 
gold, and silver, and costly jewels, to an incalculable 
amount. So, remounting his horse, he returned to 
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