Ahmed el Hilalieu was not loved by people in general. His enemies went and
found an old sorceress, and spoke to her as follows: "O sorceress, we want
you to drive this man out of our country. Ask what you will, we will give
it to you!"
She said to them: "May God gladden your faces. Call aloud. Our man will
come out and I will see him." They obeyed her, crying out that a camel had
escaped. Straightway Ahmed goes to find his father, and tells him his
intention of going to join in the search. He starts forth mounted on his
courser, and on the way meets some people, who tell him, "It is nothing."
He makes a half turn, not forgetting to water his horse, and meets at the
fountain the sorceress, who was drawing water.
"Let me pass," he said to her, "and take your buckskin out of my way."
"You may pass," she answered. He started his horse, which stepped on the
buckskin and tore it.
"You who are so brave with a poor woman," she said, "would you be able to
bring back Redah Oum Zaid?"
"By the religion of Him whom I adore, you shall show me where this Redah
lives or I'll cut off your head."
"Know, then, that she lives far from here, and that there is between her
and you no less than forty days' journey."
Ahmed went home, and took as provisions for the journey forty dates of the
deglet-nour variety, putting them into his pocket. He mounted his steed and
departed.
He goes and goes without stopping, until he comes to the country of the
sand. The charger throws his feet forward and buries himself in the sand up
to his breast, but soon stops, conquered and worn out by fatigue. Ahmed el
Hilalieu then addresses him:
"My good gray horse, of noble mien, the sand,
The cruel sand would eat your very eyes.
The air no longer thy loud whinnies bears,
No strength is left thee in thy head or heart.
The prairies of Khafour I'll give to thee,
With Nouna's eyes I'll quench thy thirst, by God
A mule's whole pack of barley shalt thou have
That Ben Haddjouna shall bring here for thee."
In his turn the steed spoke and said: "Dismount, unfasten the breast-strap,
tighten the girth, for some women are coming to show themselves to us in
this country." Ahmed unfastened the breast-strap, then remounts and
departs. While he proceeds he sees before him the encampment of a tribe,
and perceives a horseman coming, mounted on a white mare, engaged in
herding camels.
"Blessings upon you!" cried Ahmed; "you behind the camels!" The horseman
kept silence, and would not return his salutations.
"Greetings to you," cried Ahmed again, "you who are in the middle of the
camels." The same obstinate silence.
"Greetings to you, you who are before the camels." The horseman still was
silent. Ahmed then said: "Greetings to you, you who own the white mare."
"Greetings to you!" replied the horseman.
"How comes it that you would not answer my greetings for so long?"
The horseman answered: "You cried to me, 'Greetings to you, you who are
behind the camels,' Now, behind them are their tails. Then you said,
'Greetings to you, you who are in the middle of the camels,' In the middle
of them are their bellies. You said, again, 'Greetings to you, you who are
before the camels.' Before them are their heads. You said, 'Greetings to
you, O master of the white mare,' And then I answered to you, 'Greetings to
you also,'"