Page:The Celebrated Romance of the Stealing of the Mare.djvu/48

 And Zohwa's tongue wagged as they walked so that the way seemed short, and Alia lost reckoning in the darkness. And thus they came to the headland which stood at their mid-journey. And Alia knew nothing until, coming near the tree, suddenly Sahel leaped forth upon them. And Alia knew that it was he, and she cried aloud in fear. But Sahel seized hold of her by her neck ornaments and swore that if she cried out he would even cut off her head. And he began to use base language, and he said, "Now will I be avenged of the blood: and by the faith of the Arabs need is that I shall slay thee." And she said, "To thy honour I appeal, O Sahel. So may God requite thee and save thee from the rage of Abu Zeyd the Helali."

And her heart became straitened, and her tears overran her cheeks, and she knew that that traitress had entrapped her. And she entreated him, saying, " First only let me recite the prayer, that the pang of death be assuaged." But he laughed at her words, and said, "If thou be of the blameless, pray on." And he went to Zohwa and kissed her, and Alia beheld it and wept at what had befallen her, appealing still to his honour. But he treated her scornfully, saying " Dost thou not know him, this dog, this dog of dogs, this wolf, this slave, this jackal of the great? If thou hadst him in thy hand thou wouldst surely make him to drink of the cup of evil things. Now therefore, behold, there is no escape for thee from the hand of the slayer."

And when Alia heard this she sundered herself from