oats of mail, and swords
and helmets appeared amid the tents; the champions mounted their steeds,
shook their spears, and marched forth against the tribe of Byah. As soon
as they reached their enemy's territory they overran the pastures, and
gathered an immense booty in cattle, which Cais divided among his
followers. They next made for the tents and surprised the dwellers
there, who were not prepared for such an attack: Kerim being absent with
his warriors on an expedition of the same sort. Cais at the head of the
Absians, pushing his way into the dwellings, carried off the wives and
daughters of his foe.

As for Dahir, he was tethered to one of the tent-pegs, for Kerim never
used him as a charger, for fear some harm might befall him, or he might
be killed. One of the slaves who had been left in the encampment, and
had been among the first to see the approach of the Absians, went up to
Dahir for the purpose of breaking the line by which he was hobbled. This
he failed to accomplish, but mounting him, and digging his heels into
his flanks, he forced the horse, although he was hobbled, to rush off
prancing like a fawn, until he reached the desert. It was in vain that
the Absians pursued him; they could not even catch up with the trail of
dust that he left behind him.

As soon as Cais perceived Dahir, he recognized him, and the desire of
possessing him became intensified. He hurried on, but his chagrin was
great, as he perceived that, do what he would, he never could catch up
with him. At last the slave, perceiving that he had quite out-distanced
the Absians, dismounted, untied the feet of Dahir, leapt again into the
saddle, and galloped off. Cais, who had kept up the pursuit, gained
ground during this stop, and coming within ear-shot of the slave,
shouted out, "Stop, Arab, there is no cause for fear; you have my
protection; by the faith of a noble Arab, I swear it." At these words
the slave stopped. "Do you intend to sell that horse?" said King Cais to
him, "for in that case you have the most eager buyer of all the Arabian
tribesmen." "I do not wish to sell him, sire," replied the slave,
"excepting at one price, the restoration of all the booty." "I will buy
him then," the King answered, and he clasped the hand of the Arab as
pledge of the bargain. The slave dismounted from the young horse, and
delivered him over to King Cais, and the latter overjoyed at having his
wish, leapt on to his back, and set out to rejoin the Abs