Khaled by F. Marion Crawford (best e book reader android TXT) 📕

the head without which the body cannot live. Dry up the spring, therefore, let the chief camel fall into a pit suddenly, extinguish the coal, strike off the head. Let them ask in the morning: ‘Where is he?’ And let him not be found anywhere. Then the people will be amazed and will not know what to do, having no leader. This is for you to do, and it can easily be done.”

“What folly is this?” asked the blind man, shaking his head. “And how can I do what you wish?”

“It is very easy, for I know that you and your companions are as one man, living together for the common good. Go to the beggars therefore and tell them what I have told you, and be not afraid, for they will not betray you. And when Abdullah walks about the city alone lie in wait for him, for you will easily catch him in a narrow street, and two or three score of you can run after him begging for alms, until he is surrounded on all sides. Then fall upon him, and bind him, and take him secretly to one of your dwellings and keep him there, so that none find him, until the storm is past. In this way you will save Khaled and the kingdom, and when all is quiet you can deliver him up to be a laughingstock at the palace and to all who believed in him. For there is nothing to fear, and I, for my part, am sure that Abdul Kerim’s son will immediately be made sheikh of our tribe so that Abdullah will not return to us.”

“You are subtle, my brother,” said the Sheikh of the beggars, smiling and stroking his beard. “This is a good plan, being very simple, and Khaled will be grateful to us, and honour us beggars exceedingly. Said I not well that the jest was good? Surely it is better than I had thought, and more profitable.”

“I have thought of it long in the nights of winter, both by the camp fire and in my tent and on the march. But I have told no one, nor will tell anyone until all is done. But so soon as you have taken Abdullah and hidden him, let me know of it. To this end, when we are encamped outside the city I will come every evening to prayers in the great mosque and afterwards will wait for you near the door. As soon as I know that Abdullah is out of finding I will spread the report that he is lost, and before long all our tribe will give up the search, being indeed glad to get rid of him. And the rest is in the hand of Allah. I have done what I can, you must now do your share.”

“By Allah! You shall not complain of me,” answered the blind man, “nor of my people, for the jest is surpassingly good, and shall be well carried out.”

“I will therefore go into the city, where I have business,” said the Bedouin. “For I gave a reason for coming alone to Riad, and must needs show myself there to those who know me.”

So the Bedouin filled the blind beggar’s sack with barley and dates from his own supply and embraced him and went into the city, but the Sheikh of the beggars remained sitting in the same place for some time, at a distance from the rest, in an attitude of inward contemplation, though he was in reality listening to what the hunchback was telling the new cripple from Egypt. The Sheikh’s ears were sharper than those of other men and he heard very clearly what was said.

“This Bedouin,” said the hunchback, “is a near relation of our Sheikh, and holds him in great veneration, coming frequently to see him even from a considerable distance, and always bringing him a present of food. And you may see by his mare and by his weapons that he is a person of consideration in his tribe. For our Sheikh is not a negro, nor the son of a Syrian camel-driver, but an Arab of the best blood in the desert, and wise enough to sit in the council in the Sultan’s palace. You, who are but lately arrived, being transported into our midst by the mercy of Allah, must learn all these things, and you will also find out that our Sheikh has eyes in his ears, and in his fingers and in his staff, though he is counted blind, and you cannot deceive him easily as you might suppose.”

The Sheikh of the beggars was pleased when he heard this and listened attentively to hear the answer made by the Egyptian, whom he did not yet trust because he was a newcomer and a stranger.

“Truly,” replied the cripple, “Allah has been merciful and compassionate to me, for he has brought me into the society of the wise and the good, which is better than much feasting in the company of the ignorant and the ill-mannered. And as for the Sheikh, he is evidently a very holy man, to whom eyes are not in any way necessary, his inward sight being constantly fixed upon heavenly things.”

This answer did not altogether please the blind man, for it savoured somewhat of flattery. But the other beggars approved of the speech, deeming that it showed a submissive spirit, and readiness to obey and respect their chief.

“O you of Egypt!” cried the Sheikh, calling to him. “Come here and sit beside me, for I have heard what you said and desire your company.”

The cripple immediately began to crawl along by the wall, dragging himself upon his hands and body, for he had no legs.

“He is obedient,” thought the blind man, “though it costs him much labour to move.”

When the man was beside him, the Sheikh took an onion and a date from his wallet and set them down upon the ground.

“Eat,” he said, “and give