The woman who acted decoy for them and trapped their game and used to
inveigle damsels from marriage-banquets, once caught them a woman from a
bride-feast, under pretence that she had a wedding in her own house, and
fixed for her a day when she should come to her. As soon as the
appointed time arrived, the woman presented herself and the other
carried her into the house by a door, declaring that it was a private
wicket. When she entered the saloon, she saw men and braves[91] and knew
that she had fallen into a snare; so she looked at them and said,
“Harkye, my fine fellows![92] I am a woman and in my slaughter there is
no glory, nor have ye against me any feud of blood-wite wherefor ye
should pursue me; and that which is upon me of raiment and ornaments ye
are free to take as lawful loot.” Quoth they, “We fear thy
denunciation;” but quoth she, “I will abide with you, neither coming in
nor going out.” So they said, “We grant thee thy life.” Then the Captain
looked on her and she pleased him; so he took her for himself, and she
abode with him a whole year doing her very best in their service, till
they became familiar with her and felt assured of her faith. One night
of the nights she plied them with drink and they drank till they became
drunken; whereupon she arose and took her clothes and five hundred
dinars from the Captain; after which she fetched a razor and shaved off
all their beards. Then she took soot from the cooking-pots and
blackening their faces[93] opened the doors and fared forth; and when
the thieves recovered from their drink, they abode confounded and knew
that the woman had practiced upon them. All present marvelled at this
his story and the ninth constable came forward and said, “I will tell
you a right pleasant tale I heard at a wedding.”