Page:Swahili tales.djvu/77

Rh he get anything to buy a gazelle with? However, let us go and see him, Muhadim; let us go and look at this dissipated fellow, who is troubling himself to call out, and troubling you who have a burden on your head; but let us go and look at him whether he will really buy, and if he will not buy every one shall give him one cut with his stick, that he may repent, and another day if he sees a man with his load he may not call him."

They went till they reached him. "Ah! these are gazelles. Buy them. 'I want a gazelle, I want a gazelle.' Here they are, you words and not deeds. 'M! you will long with your eyes and won't lay hold with your hands."

And he said to the Muhadim, "How much is one of your gazelles?" Those three men started. "Eh, you cheat you, you know every day gazelles are sold two for a quarter of a dollar." So he said, "I want one for an eighth." "Eh, you cheat, have you got an eighth? where did you get it?" And he gave him a push in the cheek.

"What do you give me a push in the cheek for nothing for, master? What have I done to you? Did I abuse you? Did I chirrup at you? Did I take anything of yours? I called this man with gazelles to buy his gazelles, and you have come interfering: you want to spoil the bargain that I may not get it." And he took hold of the corner of his cloth and unfastened the eighth and said, "Take it, Muhadim: give me my one gazelle that I may look at it." And the Muhadim took out a gazelle. "Take this one, master." The Muhadim laughed. "How is this? you with kanzus and turbans, and swords and daggers, and sandals on your feet, you gentlemen of property and no mistake, you told me this man was destitute utterly, with nothing before and nothing behind him, and he has been able to buy a gazelle for an eighth, and you, being great gentlemen, and property at home in plenty, could not buy to the value of