to me invaluable, and to be forfeited only with my life. You may be careless of that. Beware of your own. The first man who advances dies. I pray you humbly, chieftain, let me go.’     

       ‘Kill him,’ said Scherirah.     

       ‘Stab him!’ exclaimed Kisloch.     

       ‘Give me the jewel,’ said the third robber.     

       ‘The God of David be my refuge, then!’ exclaimed Alroy.     

       ‘He is a Hebrew, he is a Hebrew,’ exclaimed Scherirah, jumping up. ‘Spare him, my mother was a Jewess.’     

       The assailants lowered their arms, and withdrew a few paces. Alroy still remained upon his guard.     

       ‘Valiant pilgrim,’ said Scherirah, advancing, with a softened voice, ‘are you for the holy city?’     

       ‘The city of my fathers.’     

       ‘A perilous journey. And whence from?’     

       ‘Hamadan.’     

       ‘A dreary way. You need repose. Your name?’     

       ‘David.’     

       ‘David, you are among friends. Rest, and repose in safety. You hesitate. Fear not! The memory of my mother is a charm that always changes me!’       Scherirah unsheathed his dagger, punctured his arm,14 and, throwing away the weapon, offered the bleeding member to Alroy. The Prince of the Captivity touched the open vein with his lips.     

       ‘My troth is pledged,’ said the bandit; ‘I can never betray him in whose veins my own blood is flowing.’ So saying, he led Alroy to his carpet.     

       ‘Eat,’ David,’ said Scherirah.     

       ‘I will eat bread,’ answered Alroy.     

       ‘What! have you had so much meat lately that you will refuse this delicate gazelle that I brought down this morning with my own lance? ‘Tis food for a caliph.’     

       ‘I pray you give me bread.’     

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