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6. Being kept awake by the pain of his wound, he heard the neighing of his horse amongst the other horses which were fastened to stakes around the tents in the open air, according to the oriental usage.

7. Abou recognized its voice. He could not resist the desire to see and caress once more the faithful animal which had been the companion and friend of years. With the assistance of his hands and knees, he dragged himself with difficulty along the ground, till he reached the spot where the horse was fastened.

8. " My poor friend," said he to the faithful animal, "what wilt thou do among the Turks? What will become of thee? Instead of the broad desert, thou wilt be immured in the narrow arches of a khan! Instead of the pure air of heaven, thou wilt breathe the unwholesome exhalations of a crowded stable!

9. "The women and children will no longer share with thee their bowl of camel's milk-no longer bring thee barley or millet in the hollow of their hands! No longer will tiny fingers feed thee with crusts of bread under the palm trees in the starlight! Thy hoofs will no longer beat the sands of the desert, fleeter than the wind of Egypt! No more wilt thou divide the waters of Jordan with thy breast, and cool therein thy skin, whiter than their foam.

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IO. Though I remain a slave-be thou free! Go, return to the tent which thou lovest so well! Say to my wife that her husband will return no more! Put thy head under the curtains of the tent, and lick the hands of the children who will never again know a father's love!"

II. With his teeth Abou gnawed through the cord of goat's hair with which the legs of the horse were fastened. The animal was free. But at the sight of his master bound and wounded at his feet the faithful and sagacious steed understood, by instinct, what no language could explain to him.

12. He stooped his head, and affectionately smelled the Arab's face and person; then seizing with his teeth the leathern thong with which the man's waist was girdled, he lifted him from the ground, and bore him off at a full gallop.

13. With his burden still in his mouth he arrived at the tent, where, laying his master on the sand at the feet of his astonished wife and children, he fell himself, and expired from fatigue.

14. All the tribe wept over the faithful steed. The Arab poets have celebrated his virtues in many a song; and to this day his name is constantly in the mouths of the Arabs of the desert.

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III. THE ARAB AND THE ROBBER

1. In a certain tribe of Arabs of the desert there was a horse whose fame was spread far and near. A Bedouin of another tribe, by name Daher, desired extremely to become its owner.

2. Having offered for it in vain his camels and his whole wealth, he hit at length upon the following device, by which he hoped to gain the object of his desire.

3. He resolved to stain his face with the juice of an herb, to clothe himself in rags, and to tie his leg to his neck so as to appear like a lame beggar.

4. Thus he went to a certain place which Naber, the owner of the horse, designed to pass. When he saw Naber approaching on the beautiful steed he cried out in a weak voice: "I am a poor stranger. For three days I have been unable to move from this spot to seek for food. I am dying. Help me, and Heaven will reward you."

5. The Arab kindly offered to take him up on his horse, and carry him home. But the rogue replied: "I cannot ride. I have no strength left."

6. Naber, touched with pity, dismounted, led his horse to the spot, and with great difficulty set the seeming beggar on its back.

7. But no sooner did Daher feel himself in the

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