I Went forth one day of the days, intending to travel, and suddenly fell upon a man whose wont it was to cut the way. When he came up with me he offered to slay me and I said to him, "I have nothing with me by which you may profit." he said, "My profit shall be the taking of your life." I asked, "What is the cause of this? Has there been enmity between us aforetime?" and he answered, "Nay; but needs must I slay you." Thereupon I ran away from him to the river side; but he caught me up and casting me to the ground, sat down on my breast. So I sought help of the Shaykh of the Pilgrims and cried to him, "Protect me from this oppressor!" And indeed he had drawn a knife to cut my throat when, to and behold! there came a mighty great crocodile forth of the river and snatching him up from off my breast plunged into the water, with him still bending knife in hand, even within the jaws of the beast: whilst I abode extolling Almighty Allah, and rendering thanks for my preservation to him who had delivered me from the hand of that wrongdoer.