Page:Tales from the Arabic, Vol 2.djvu/210

 THE FIFTEENTH OFFICER’S STORY.

‘It is told of a certain doughty thief, that he used to rob and stop the way by himself upon caravans, and whenever the prefect of police and the magistrates sought him, he would flee from them and fortify himself in the mountains. Now it befell that a certain man journeyed along the road wherein was the robber in question, and this man was alone and knew not the perils that beset his way. So the highwayman came out upon him and said to him, “Bring out that which is with thee, for I mean to slay thee without fail.” Quoth the traveller, “Slay me not, but take these saddle-bags and divide [that which is in] them and take the fourth part [thereof].” And the thief answered, “I will not take aught but the whole.” “Take half,” rejoined the traveller, “and let me go.” But the robber replied, “I will take nought but the whole, and I will slay thee [to boot].” And the traveller said, “Take it.”

So the highwayman took the saddle-bags and offered to kill the traveller, who said, “What is this? Thou hast no blood-feud against me, that should make my slaughter