Page:Ossendowski - The Fire of Desert Folk.djvu/50

34 higher, holier, human being specially marked by God, and they consequently addressed him from this time forth as "Wali," the Chosen of Allah. At his final examination by the Masters, the young scholar recited some chapters from the Koran in such a beautiful and impressive voice that "those present heard the flutter of the wings of angels, who had been lured from Heaven."

Having had conferred upon him the title of "thaleb," Choaib crossed over to Africa, studied some time in Fez and then, taking a pilgrim's staff, wandered through the land, until finally he chose Tlemsen for his fixed abode. He took up his life on Mount Terni, towering above the village of El-Eubbad not far from the city, and there passed days and nights in prayer and ascetic practices near the tomb of Sidi Abd Allah ben Ali, a holy and wise man whose memory was shrouded in the greatest honor.

Soon the young eremite gave proof of his miraculous powers when the sultan's palace was robbed and all effort to discover the plunderers of the treasuries proved of no avail, until he was summoned before the despairing ruler and, on being questioned answered without hesitation:

"Two men, Oh Sultan, entered and despoiled your courts. Together they possessed but two legs, as one of them is strong but blind, while the second has shriveled limbs and goes about on the shoulders of his blind companion. They are beggars, asking alms in the name of Sidi Nail. If you will send your soldiers to the end of Beni Zeiyan Street, they will see there a ruined house and will find among the ruins the robbers and their spoil."

From this time forth the fame of Choaib grew and