over small
troubles nor apparently fear great ones; he did not say, "This is my
way," and infer that it was better than others; he liked the red
camel, the white, and the brown. "Who dances with the sand is not
stifled," said Zeyn.

Now he found the Christian with Hassan, listening at ease, stretched
upon the sand, to Ali the Wanderer. The head man, welcomed, listened,
too, to Ali bringing his story to a close. "That is good, Ali the
Wanderer! Just where grows the tree from which one gathers that
fruit?"

"It can't be told unless you already know," said Ali.

"Allah my refuge! Then I would not be asking you!" answered Zeyn. "I
should have shaken the tree and gathered the diamonds, rubies, and
emeralds, and been off with them!"

"You did not hear what was said. Ibn the Happy found that they could
not be taken from the tree. He had tried what you propose. He broke
off a great number and ran away with them. But they turned to black
dust in his bosom. He put them all down, and when he looked back he
saw them still shining on the tree."

"What did Ibn the Happy do?"

"He climbed into the tree and lived there."

In the distance jackals were barking. "I like nothing better than
listening to stories," said Zeyn al-Din. "But, Allah! Just now there
are more important things to do! Yusuf the Red, I name you watcher
here until moonrise. Then waken Melec, who already sleeps there!"

His eyes touched in passing the big Christian. "Oh yes, you would be a
good watcher," thought Zeyn. "But there's a folly in this caravan!
Wait till good fortune has a steadier foot!"

But good fortune continued a wavering, evanishing thing. Deep in the
night, from behind a stiffened wave of earth, rose and dashed a
mounted band of Bedouin robbers. Yusuf the Red and other watchers had
and gave some warning. Zeyn al-Din's voice was presently heard like a
trumpet. The caravan repelled the robbers. But five of its number were
lost, some camels and mules driven off. The Bedouins departing with
wild cries, there were left confusion and bewailing, slowly
straightening, slowly sinking. The caravan, with a pang, recognized
that ill luck was a traveler with it.

The dead received burial; the wounded were looked to, at last hoisted,
groaning, upon the camels, among the merchandise. Unrested, bemoaning
loss, the trading company made their morning start three hours behind
the set time. For stars in the sky, there was the yellow light and the
sun at a b