your appointment?"

"Is it to me you speak, O hadji caliph?" at last stammered out Yussuf.

"Yes," replied the caliph, gravely.

Giaffar, who stood near his master, then cried out, "Yes, you cowardly
shred of a beeldar; and reply quickly, or a sword will be applied to
your neck."

Yussuf, as if talking to himself, replied, "I hope it will be _my own_
then." He then replied to the question, "Yes, yes, it's all right--my
father was a beeldar, and my _mother_ also before him." At this
extravagant answer the caliph and whole court could no longer restrain
their mirth, which gave Yussuf a little more courage.

"So," replied Haroun, "it appears that you are a beeldar, and that your
allowance is ten dinars yearly, and five pounds of mutton daily."

"Yes, my Umeer," replied Yussuf, "I believe that is correct. My trust is
in God!"

"It is well. Now, Yussuf, take with you three other beeldars to the
dungeon of blood, and bring to me the four robbers who were condemned to
death for their manifold crimes and enormities."

Here Giaffar interfered, and submitted to the caliph, whether it would
not be better that the head jailor should produce them, which being
ordered, that officer presently made his appearance with the four
criminals pinioned and bareheaded. The caliph ordered three of the
beeldars each to seize and blindfold a prisoner, to open their upper
garments ready to unsheath their swords, and wait for the word of
command. The three beeldars made their obeisance, obeyed the command,
placing the criminals in a kneeling position, resting on their hams,
with their necks bare, and their eyes covered. While the three beeldars
stood thus in readiness, Yussuf was in a dreadful state of confusion.
"To escape now is impossible," said he to himself. "Confound these
Moussul merchants. They did well to say they would come no more, for in
a few minutes I shall be no more myself."

"You fellow there! you are one of the appointed beeldars, and do not
know your duty," cried Giaffar. "Why do you not lead out the criminal,
as your companions have done?"

Yussuf, obliged to obey, now seized the fourth prisoner, covered his
eyes, laid bare his neck, and took his stand behind him, but without
drawing his sword. "I never shall be able to get over this," thought
Yussuf. "In a few seconds it will prove to be but a piece of palm-wood,
and I shall lose my head among the jeers of the people. However, my
trust is in God; and to Shitan with