Page:Three crump twin brothers of Damascus (3).pdf/3

 third Babeken, and theſe three little humph back'd brothers never worked in their ſhop, but they ſerved as laughing ſtocks to all the boys and girls in the town.

One day, as the only ſon of a rich merchnnt, named Mourad, returned from walkiug with ſome of his play-fellows, finding himſelf more merry than uſual, he leaned apon the bulk of the three crumps, and inſulted them with ſo much keenefs, that Babeker, who was then at work upon a knife-blade, loſt all patience: he run after thoſe children, and ſingling out his prircipal enemy, gave him a cut in the belly; but finding that he was purſued by the mob, he ran into his ſhop and pulled the door after him.

As Mourad was dangerouſly wounded, all the avenues of Bemerillah's houſe were immediately ſecured, till the cady, who was ſent for, ſhould come. He repaired to the place immediately with his Azzas*, and having broke open the door upon their refuſal, forcibly entered into the ſhop, and demanded of thoſe who had been witineſſes of the action that was committed, which of the three crumps was the murderer? Nobody could affirm that it was one of them more than the other; they were ſo exactly alike, that they were at a loſs. The Cady examined Ibad, who aſſured him that it was not he that had wounded the boy, and that he could not tell whether it was Syahouk or Babeken: Syahouk averred the ſame thing. And Babeken, ſeeing himſelf out of danger, had the impudence to deny likewiſe that he had any hand in the crime.

The Cady was therefore much perplexed what *The Azzas are a fort of catchpoles, that generally accompany the Cadies.