Pagina 319 van 1116

So my father fitted out six ships for me and my people; and we

put to sea and sailed for the space of a full month till we made

the land. Then we brought out the horses that were with us in the

ships; and, after loading the camels with our presents for the

Prince, we set forth inland. But we had marched only a little

way, when behold, a dust cloud up flew, and grew until it

walled[FN#203] the horizon from view. After an hour or so the

veil lifted and discovered beneath it fifty horsemen, ravening

lions to the sight, in steel armour dight. We observed them

straightly and lo! they were cutters off of the highway, wild as

wild Arabs. When they saw that we were only four and had with us

but the ten camels carrying the presents, they dashed down upon

us with lances at rest.