Page:The Celebrated Romance of the Stealing of the Mare.djvu/87

 Yet found they not the mare, nor token of her presence.

And they fell in consternation, O people, and much doubting.

And they cried, " Alack-a-day ! To our help, O men, O warriors !

The grey mare of the King is not. Ho, ye of courage,

Go with the news straightway. Tell the Agheyli Jaber."

And a tumult vast arose in all the neighbouring campfires.

And the Emir Fadel came, confused with the much shouting ;

And he called to them aloud, " O warriors, wherefore shout ye,

Casting the camps in fear, as though the foe were on ye ? "

And they brought him a kassas, a cunning man, a tracker,

One learned in all signs, that he might search the desert.

And lo the footsteps ended at the tent of Alia.

Then were there wondering looks among the camel riders,

And a thousand horsemen rode, Fulano and Fulano,

Every name of worth, a gallant band of fighters.

And the hero Abu Zeyd lifted his eyes, and saw them,

Like locusts on the plain. And he tightened his mare's girthing,

And called aloud to all, cc Come on, if ye have courage."

And they gathered near and near, and the dust of their hard riders