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But now give us up the knife wherewith thou threatenest us every

night." Then they searched him and found in his waist belt the

knife used for his shoe leather; and he said, "O people, have the

fear of Allah before your eyes and maltreat me not, for know that

my story is a right strange!" "And what is thy story?" said they:

so he told them what had befallen him, hoping they would let him

go; however they paid no heed to what he said and, instead of

showing some regard, beat him grievously and tore off his

clothes: then, finding on his sides the scars of beating with

rods, they said, "O accursed!