ians, whom he
commanded to restore all the booty which they had taken. His order was
executed to the letter. King Cais, enchanted at the success of his
enterprise, and at the possession of Dahir, returned home. So great was
his fondness for the horse that he groomed and fed him with his own
hands. Soon as Hadifah, chief of the tribe of Fazarah, heard that Cais
had possession of Dahir, jealousy filled his heart. In concert with
other chiefs he plotted the death of this beautiful horse.

Now it came to pass that at this time Hadifah gave a great feast, and
Carwash, kinsman of King Cais, was present. At the end of the meal, and
while the wine circulated freely the course of conversation turned to
the most famous chiefs of the time. The subject being exhausted, the
guests began to speak about their most celebrated horses, and next, of
the journeys made by them in the desert. "Kinsmen," said Carwash, "none
of you ever saw a horse like Dahir, which belongs to my ally Cais. It is
vain to seek his equal; his pace is absolutely terrifying. He chases
away sorrow from the heart of him who beholds him, and protects like a
strong tower the man who mounts him." Carwash did not stop here, but
continued to praise, in the highest and most distinguished language, the
horse Dahir, until all of the tribe of Fazarah and of the family of
Zyad, felt their hearts swell with rage. "Do you hear him, brother?"
said Haml to Hadifah; "come, that is enough," he added, turning towards
Carwash. "All that you have said about Dahir is absolute nonsense--for
at present there are no horses better or finer than mine, and those of
my brother."

With these words he ordered his slaves to bring his horses and parade
them before Carwash. This was done. "Come, Carwash, look at that horse."
"He is not worth the hay you feed him on," said the other. Then those of
Hadifah were led out; among them was a mare, named Ghabra, and a
stallion called Marik. "Now look at these," said Hadifah. "They are not
worth the hay they eat," replied Carwash. Hadifah, filled with
indignation at these words: "What, not even Ghabra?" "Not even Ghabra,
or all the horses in the world," repeated Carwash. "Would you like to
make a bet for us with King Cais?" "Certainly," answered Carwash--"I
will wager that Dahir will beat all the horses of the tribe of Fazarah,
even if he carries a hundred weight of stone on his back." They
discussed the matter for a long time, the one affirming the other