It is told of a thieving person, one of the braves, that he used to rob and cut the way by himself upon caravans, and whenever the Chief of Police and the Governors sought him, he would flee from them and fortify himself in the mountains. Now it came to pass that a certain man journeyed along the road in which was that robber, and this man was single handed and knew not the sore perils besetting his way. So the highwayman came out upon him and said to him, "Bring out that which is with you, for I mean to kill you and no mistake." the traveller said, "Kill me not, but annex these saddle bags and divide that which is in them and take to you the fourth part." And the thief answered, "I will not take anything but the whole." Rejoined the traveller, "Take half, and let me go;" but the robber replied, "I will have nothing but the whole, and eke I will kill you." So the wayfarer said, "Take it." Accordingly the highwayman took the saddle bags and offered to slay the traveller, who said, "What is this? You have against me no blood feud that

The Fifteenth Constable's History. 41 should make my slaughter incumbent." the other said, "Needs must I kill you;" whereupon the traveller dismounted from his horse and grovelled before him, beseeching the thief and bespeaking him fair. The man hearkened not to his prayers, but cast him to the ground; whereupon the traveller raised his eyes and seeing a francolin flying over him, said, in his agony, "O Francolin, bear testimony that this man slays me unjustly and wickedly; for indeed I have given him all that was with me and entreated him to let me go, for my children's sake; yet would he not consent. But be you witness against him, for Allah is not unmindful of deeds which the oppressors do." The highwayman paid no heed to what he heard, but smote him and cut off his head. After this, the rulers compounded with the highwayman for his submission, and when he came before them, they enriched him and he became in such favour with the lieutenant of the Sultan that he used to eat and drink with him and there befell between them familiar converse which lasted a long while till in fine there chanced a curious chance. The lieutenant of the Sultan one day of the days made a banquet, and within it was a roasted francolin, which when the robber saw, he laughed a loud laugh. The lieutenant was angered against him and said to him, "What is the meaning of your laughter? See you any fault or do you mock at us, of your lack of good manners?"

Answered the highwayman, "Not so, By God, O my lord; but I saw that francolin, which brought to my mind an extraordinary thing; and 'twas in this way. In the days of my youth, I used to cut the way, and one day I waylaid a man, who had with him a pair of saddle bags and money within it. So I said to him, 'Leave these saddle bags, for I mean to slay you.' He said, 'Take the fourth part of that which is in them and leave me the rest;' and I, said, 'Needs must I take the whole and kill you without mistake.' Then he said, 'Take the saddle bags and let me go on their way;' but I answered, 'There is no help but that I slay you.' As we were in this contention, behold, he saw a francolin and turning to it, said, 'Bear testimony against him, O Francolin, that he slays me unjustly and letts me not go to my children, for all he has taken my money.' However, I had no pity on him neither hearkened to that which he said, but smote him and slew him and concerned not myself with the evidence of the francolin." His story troubled the lieutenant of the Sultan and he was enraged against him with sore rage; so he drew his sword and smiting him, cut off his head while he sat at table; whereupon a voice recited these couplets —

"An would not be injured, injure not; But do good and from Allah win goodly lots

For what happens By God is doomed to be Yet yours acts are the root I would have you know."

The Sixteenth Constable's History. 43

Now this voice was the francolin which bore witness against him. The company present marvelled at this tale and all cried, "Woe to the oppressor!" Then came forward the sixteenth constable and said, "And I for another will tell you a marvellous story which is in this way."