francolin, which when the robber saw, he laughed a loud laugh. The lieutenant was angered against him and said to him, “What is the meaning of thy laughter? Seest thou any fault or dost thou mock at us, of thy lack of good manners?” Answered the highwayman, “Not so, by Allah, O my lord; but I saw yonder francolin, which brought to my mind an extraordinary thing; and ’twas on this wise. In the days of my youth, I used to cut the way, and one day I waylaid a man, who had with him a pair of saddle-bags and money therein.” So I said to him, “Leave these saddle-bags, for I mean to slay thee.” Quoth he, “Take the fourth part of that which is in them and leave me the rest;” and quoth I, “Needs must I take the whole and kill thee without mistake.” Then said he, “Take the saddle-bags and let me wend my way;” but I answered, “There is no help but that I slay thee.” As we were in this contention, behold, he saw a francolin and turning to it, said, “Bear testimony against him, O Francolin, that he slayeth me unjustly and letteth me not go to my children, for all he hath taken my money.” However, I had no pity on him neither hearkened to that which he said, but smote him and slew him and concerned not myself with the evidence of the francolin. His story troubled the lieutenant of the Sultan and he was enraged against him with sore rage; so he drew his sword and smiting him, cut off his head while he sat at table; whereupon a voice recited these couplets— An wouldst not be injurèd, injure not; ✿ But do good and from Allah win goodly lot; For what happeth by Allah is doomed to be ✿ Yet thine acts are the root I would have thee wot.[128] Now this voice was the francolin which bore witness against him. The company present marvelled at this tale and all cried, “Woe to the oppressor!” Then came forward the sixteenth constable and said, “And I for another will tell you a marvellous story which is on this wise.” THE SIXTEENTH CONSTABLE’S HISTORY.