all Moussul merchants." He took,
however, his sheath and sham sword from his belt, and raised it in the
scabbard over his shoulder.

The caliph, who watched him narrowly, was highly diverted with this
manoeuvre. "You beeldar!" cried he, "why do you not unsheath your
sword?"

"My sword," replied Yussuf, "is of that temper, that it must not too
long glance in the eyes of the Commander of the Faithful."

The caliph appeared satisfied, and turning to the first beeldar,
commanded him to strike. In a moment the head of the robber was lying on
the ground. "Neatly and bravely done," said the caliph; "let him be
rewarded." He then gave command to the second to execute his criminal.
The sword whirled in the air, and at one stroke the head of the robber
flew some distance from the shoulders. The third criminal was despatched
with equal dexterity. "Now," said the caliph to Yussuf, "you, my
beeldar, cut off the criminal's head, and receive the like reward for
your dexterity."

Yussuf had by this time, to a certain degree, recovered his presence of
mind; he had not exactly arranged his ideas, but they floated
indistinctly in his brain. "Will your highness allow me to say a few
words to the criminal?" demanded Yussuf, to gain time.

"Be it so," replied the caliph, stuffing his robe in his mouth to
prevent laughter.

"The caliph has commanded that your head be struck off. If you would
pronounce the profession of the true faith, now is your time, robber,
for you have but one short minute to live."

The criminal immediately cried out, "There is but one God, and Mahomet
is his Prophet!"

Yussuf then bared his muscular arm, and fiercely rolling his eyes,
walked three times round his prisoner. "Declare now the justice of your
fate," cried he, aloud (but at the same time saying to the man, in a low
tone, "Swear you are innocent"). "Say, is not your sentence just?"

"No--no," replied the man, in a loud voice, "I am innocent."

The caliph, who was very attentive to all that passed, was much
diverted by Yussuf's proceedings, and wondered what he would do next.
Yussuf then walked up to the caliph, and prostrated himself. "O caliph!
vicegerent of the Prophet! deign to listen to your faithful beeldar,
while he narrates a strange adventure which hath befallen him within
these few days."

"Speak, beeldar, we are all attention; remember that thy words be those
of truth."

"It was on the evening before your highness issued the decree t