ueezed his waist into as
narrow a compass as he could, gave his turban a smart cock, washed his
hands, and took a peeled almond-wand in his hand. He was proceeding
down stairs, when he recollected that it was necessary to have a sword,
and he had only a scabbard, which he fixed in his belt, and cutting a
piece of palm-wood into the shape of a sword, he fixed it in, making the
handle look smart with some coloured pieces of cotton and silk, which he
sewed with packthread. Thus marched he out, swaggering down the
streets, and swinging his twig of almond-tree in his hand. As he
strutted along every one made way for him, imagining him to be one of
those insolent retainers of office, who are supported by the great
khans. Thus he continued a straight course, until he arrived at the
market-place, where a multitude was assembled round two men, who were
fighting desperately. Yussuf pressed forward, the crowd making way for
him on both sides, either taking him for an officer of the household, or
dreading the force of his nervous and muscular proportions. When he
reached the combatants, they were covered with dirt and blood, and
engaged so furiously, that no one dare separate them. Yussuf,
perceiving the dread which he inspired, and that he was taken, as he
wished to be, for a beeldar, first clapped his hand to the handle of his
pretended sword, and then struck the combatants several sharp blows with
his almond stick, and thus induced them to leave off fighting. The
sheick, or head of the bazaar, then approached Yussuf, and making an
obeisance, presented him with six dirhems, with a prayer that he would
seize the culprits, and carry them before the caliph for punishment, as
disturbers of the public peace.

Yussuf, securing the money in his girdle, seized up the two combatants,
and carrying one under each arm, walked off with them. A great crowd
followed, with many prayers for the release of the prisoners; but Yussuf
turned a deaf ear, until another six dirhems were dropped into his vest,
with a prayer for mercy. Upon this Yussuf consented to release them,
and walked away, hardly able to contain his exultation. "I am Yussuf,"
cried he, "and I trust in God. As a beeldar will I live and die. By
Allah! I will go to the palace, and see how it fares with my brother
beeldars."

Now there were thirty beeldars in the service of the caliph, who
attended the palace in rotation, ten each day. On reaching the court of
the palac