Pagina 810 de 1116

They rowed across to the opposite bank, where they landed and

there came up the watch and guardians of the peace with chains,

which they put round the robbers' necks. They chained me among

the rest of them; and, O people, is it not a proof of my courtesy

and spareness of speech, that I held my peace and did not please

to speak? Then they took us away in bilbos and next morning

carried us all before Al-Mustansir bi'llah, Commander of the

Faithful, who bade smite the necks of the ten robbers. So the

Sworder came forward after they were seated on the leather of

blood;[FN#634] then drawing his blade, struck off one head after

another until he had smitten the neck of the tenth; and I alone

remained.