Then they fell a-faring night and day, and as they went, behold, they sighted a camp of the camps of the Arabs. So Al-Abbas enquired thereof and was told that it was the camp of the Banu Zohrah. Now there were around them herds and flocks, such as filled the earth, and they were enemies to Al-Akil, the cousin of Al-Abbas, upon whom they made daily raids and took his cattle, wherefore he used to pay them tribute every year because he lacked power to cope with them. When Al-Abbas came to the skirts of the camp, he dismounted from his destrier and his servant Amir also dismounted; and they set down the provaunt and ate their sufficiency and rested an hour of the day. Then said the Prince to his page, “Fetch water from the well and give the horses to drink and draw up a supply for us in thy bag,[396] by way of provision for the road.” So Amir took the water-skin and made for the well; but, when he came there, behold, two young men slaves were leading gazelles, and when they saw him, they said to him, “Whither wendest thou, O youth, and of which of the Arabs art thou?” Quoth he, “Harkye, lads, fill me my water-skin, for that I am a stranger astray and a farer of the way, and I have a comrade who awaiteth me.” Quoth the thralls, “Thou art no wayfarer, but a spy from Al-Akil’s camp.” Then they took him and carried him to their king Zuhayr bin Shabíb; and when he came before him, he said to him, “Of which of the Arabs art thou?” Quoth Amir, “I am a wayfarer.” So Zuhayr said, “Whence comest thou and whither wendest thou?” and Amir replied, “I am on my way to Al-Akil.” When he named Al-Akil, those who were present were excited; but Zuhayr signed to them with his eyes and asked him, “What is thine errand with Al-Akil?” and he answered, “We would fain see him, my friend and I.” As soon as Zuhayr heard his words, he bade smite his neck;[397] but his Wazir said to him, “Slay him not, till his friend be present.” So he commanded the two slaves to fetch his friend; whereupon they repaired to Al-Abbas and called to him, saying, “O youth, answer the summons of King Zuhayr.” He enquired, “What would the king with me?” and they replied, “We know not.” Quoth he, “Who gave the king news of me?” and quoth they, “We went to draw water, and found a man by the well. So we questioned him of his case, but he would not acquaint us therewith, wherefore we carried him willy-nilly to King Zuhayr, who asked him of his adventure and he told him that he was going to Al-Akil. Now Al-Akil is the king’s enemy and he intendeth to betake himself to his camp and make prize of his offspring, and cut off his traces.” Said Al-Abbas, “And what hath Al-Akil done with King Zuhayr?” They replied, “He engaged for himself that he would bring the King every year a thousand dinars and a thousand she-camels, besides a thousand head of thoroughbred steeds and two hundred black slaves and fifty hand-maids; but it hath reached the king that Al-Akil purposeth to give