“Now he weeps, I assure you,” cried Hassan, exultant. “Let us go down and help the poor man,” said Shems-ud-dìn. “No, that we will not! It were a sin! But I am with thee, my dear, to go down and hear his tale. It must be a rare one. Ma sh’ Allah!” Already Shibli and the younger men were urging their horses down the steep decline. Old Hassan followed at a breakneck pace. Only Shems-ud-dìn and Mâs the negro stayed by the litter. Care for the sick girl obliging them to descend very slowly, step by step, by the time they reached the foot the rest of the party had been some time gathered round the lord of that froward camel. Shems-ud-dìn drew near the group. The fellâh was about finishing his tale of woe. He moaned: “O Lord, I possess but this one only, and a person in Es-Salt, the lord of much wealth, would buy him of me for a journey he makes to-morrow. The price offered is a high one. I would fain receive it. But to-morrow will be too late; the merchant will have gone his way. Would to Allah I had not lain down to sleep! Would that I had never been born to need sleep upon the earth! Be kind now, I entreat you, O my masters! Help me to recover my camel.” But the Circassians, and Shibli with them, mocked his anguish, saying: “We sympathize with thee, that is understood. But we be plain men. We meddle not with signs and wonders. Who ever saw the like of this thy quandary? Surely it is upon thee from the hand of Allah.” At that the poor man put his knuckles to his eyes and wept aloud, cursing the stock of men so heartless. Shems-ud-dìn frowned upon their wickedness. He was about to use his authority on the man’s behalf when lo! the camel itself came striding round a shoulder of the hill and stood within a few paces of him. The rest beheld not the chance, intent on their evil game. Very quietly the sheykh walked his horse toward the great beast, which watched his approach without concern, nor demurred even when he grasped the headrope. “O fellâh, behold thy camel!” For a moment all were petrified. Then wild cries arose: “A wonder!”—“A sign from Allah!”—“The Lord has ordained a miracle at the hand of the saintly Shems-ud-dìn!”—“Run, O poor man! Make haste to kiss the earth between his horse’s feet!” The fellâh did as they bade him. He ran, and falling on the ground, flattened himself before the horse of Shems-ud-dìn, crying: “Deign to ride over me, O favored of Allah! Behold, I am the dust of thy pathway!” The sheykh made him rise, and explained to him the occurrence as most natural. “Seeing thou hadst ceased from pursuing, thy camel tired of playing alone and came of his own accord to look for thee.” But the owner of the camel would not be convinced, any more than would the bystanders, that the event was less than a miracle. The Circassians congratulated one another, whispering: