Chinese and Arabian Literature - E. Wilson - The Search For Mecca

THE ABSIANS AND FAZAREANS 39
Beder, and you yourself drink the bitter cup of patience be-
hind me." Meanwhile Shidoub, swift as the north wind, kept
ahead of Dahir, bounding like a fawn and running like an
ostrich, until he reached the defile where Dames was hidden.
The slave had only thrown down less than a third of his peb-
bles, when he looked up and saw Dahir approaching.
He waited till the horse passed close by him, and suddenly
showed himself with a shout, and hit the racer violently between
the eyes with a stone. The horse reared, stopped one
moment, and the rider was on the point of being unseated.
Shidoub was a witness to the incident, and having looked at the
slave, recognized him as belonging to the treacherous Hadifah.
In the violence of his rage he flung himself upon Dames, and
struck him dead with his sword ; then he approached Dahir for
the purpose of speaking soothingly to him, and starting him
again on the race ; but, alas, the mare Ghabra rushed up like
the wind. Then Shidoub, fearing defeat, thinking of the
camels he would forfeit, set out running at full speed towards
the lake, where he arrived two bow-shots in advance of the
horses. Ghabra followed, then Dahir last, bearing on his forehead
the mark of the missile; his cheeks were covered with
blood and tears.
All the spectators were astounded on seeing the agility and
endurance of Shidoub ; but as soon as Ghabra had reached the
finish the Fazareans uttered loud shouts of joy. Dahir was
led home all bleeding, and his rider told the men of the tribe
of Abs what the slave had done. Cais examined the wound of
his horse and asked for full details of the occurrence. Antar
grew crimson with anger, and laid his hand upon his invincible
sword, as if impatient to annihilate the tribe of the Fazareans.
But the sheiks restrained him, although with difficulty, after
which they went to Hadifah to cover him with shame, and to
reproach him with the infamous deed he had done. Hadifah
denied it, with false oaths, affirming that he knew nothing of
the blow dealt to Dahir ; then he added, " I demand the camels
which are due to me, and I do not admit the treacherous pre-
text on which they are being withheld."
" That blow is doubtless of evil augury for the tribe of Fazarah,"
said Cais. " God will certainly give us victory and
triumph, and destroy them. For Hadifah only desired this
race to take place in order that it might cause trouble and dis-