Page 703 sur 1116

I fell to the ground, whilst the people came round us and seizing

the trooper's mare by the bridle said to him, "Strikest thou this

youth such a blow as this for a mere push!" But the trooper cried

out at them, "This fellow is an accursed thief!" Whereupon I came

to myself and stood up, and the people looked at me and said,

"Nay, he is a comely youth: he would not steal anything;" and

some of them took my part and others were against me and question

and answer waxed loud and warm. The people pulled at me and would

have rescued me from his clutches; but as fate decreed behold,

the Governor, the Chief of Police, and the watch[FN#543] entered

the Zuwaylah Gate at this moment and, seeing the people gathered

together around me and the soldier, the Governor asked, "What is

the matter?" "By Allah! O Emir," answered the trooper, "this is a

thief!