I went forth one day of the days, intending to travel, and suddenly fell
upon a man whose wont it was to cut the way. When he came up with me he
offered to slay me and I said to him, “I have naught with me whereby
thou mayst profit.” Quoth he, “My profit shall be the taking of thy
life.” I asked, “What is the cause of this? Hath there been enmity
between us aforetime?” and he answered, “Nay; but needs must I slay
thee.” Thereupon I ran away from him to the river side; but he caught me
up and casting me to the ground, sat down on my breast. So I sought help
of the Shaykh of the Pilgrims[129] and cried to him, “Protect me from
this oppressor!” And indeed he had drawn a knife to cut my throat when,
lo and behold! there came a mighty great crocodile forth of the river
and snatching him up from off my breast plunged into the water, with him
still hending knife in hand, even within the jaws of the beast; whilst I
abode extolling Almighty Allah, and rendering thanks for my preservation
to him who had delivered me from the hand of that wrong-doer.[130]