Page:Folk-lore of the Holy Land.djvu/83

Rh tinned copper, were here of silver plate set with jewels.

Mûsa, being tired out, soon fell asleep; but long ere daylight his companion woke him, saying they must start at once. Musa objected, finding the bed comfortable. He declared it ungrateful to leave so early while their host was still abed and they could not thank him. “Remember the terms of our compact,” said the derwish sternly, while to Mûsa’s amazement he coolly slipped the silver “tusht” or wash-hand-basin into the bosom of his robe. Mûsa then rose in silence and they left the house.

That evening, quite worn out, they reached another village, and were once more guests of the sheykh, who proved the very opposite of their host of the previous night. He grumbled at the necessity he was under of harbouring dirty vagrants, and bade a servant take them to a cave behind the stable where they could sleep on a heap of “tibn.” For supper he sent them scraps of mouldy bread and a few bad olives. Mûsa could not touch the stuff, though he was starving, but his companion made a good meal.

Next morning, Mûsa awoke very early, feeling hungry and miserable. He roused his guide and suggested that it was time to rise and start. But the derwish said, “No, we must not sneak away like thieves,” and went to sleep again.

Some two hours later the ascetic rose, bade Mûsa put the fragments of the night’s meal into his bosom, and said, “Now we must bid our host farewell.”