Three men once went out questing treasure and came upon a nugget of gold, weighing fifty maunds. When they saw it, they took it up on their shoulders and carried it till they drew near a certain city, when one of them

The Disciple's Story. 171 said, "Let us sit in the cathedral mosque, whilst one of us shall go and buy us what we may eat." So they sat down in the mosque and one of them arose and entered the city. When he came within it, his soul prompted him to betray his two fellows and get the gold to himself alone. Accordingly, he bought food and poisoned it: but when he returned to his comrades, they sprang upon him and slew him, in order that they might enjoy the gold without him. Then they ate of the poisoned food and died, and the gold lay cast down beside them. Presently, Isa bin Maryam (on whom be the Peace!) passed by and seeing this, besought Allah Almighty for tidings of their case; so He told him what had happened to them, at which great was his surprise and he related to his disciples what he had seen. One of them said, "O Spirit of Allah, nothing resembles this but my own adventure." Isa said, "How so?" and the other began to tell