Two men, one of whom was named Beddou and the other Amkammel, went to
market bearing a basket of figs. They met a man who was working, and said
to him:
"God assist you!"
"Amen!" he answered. One of them wanted to wash himself, but there was no
water. The laborer, him who was with him (_sic_), said, "What is your
name?"
"Beddou."
"By the Lord, Beddou, watch my oxen while I go to drink."
"Go!"
When he had gone, he took away one of the oxen. On his return the laborer
saw that one was missing. He went to the other traveller and asked him:
"By my father, what is your name?"
"Amkammel Ouennidhui" ("The Finisher"), he answered.
"By the Lord, Amkammel Ouennidhui, watch this ox for me while I go look for
the one that is gone."
"Go!"
He stole the other one. When the laborer returned he didn't even find the
second.
The two thieves went away, taking the oxen. They killed them to roast them.
One drank all the water of the sea, the other all the fresh water, to wash
it down. When they had finished, one stayed there to sleep, the other
covered him with ashes. The former got up to get a drink and the ashes fell
on the road. When he came back, the second covered himself with the
ox-head. His brother, who had gone to get a drink, was afraid, and ran
away. They divided the other ox to eat it. The one who had drunk the
sea-water now drank fresh water, and the one who had drunk fresh water now
drank sea-water. When they had finished their repast they took up their
journey. They found an old woman who had some money, upon which she was
sitting. When they arrived they fought. She arose to separate them. One of
them took her place to pass the night, and pretended that he was dead. The
old woman said to him:
"Get up, my son."
He refused. In the evening one of them stole the money, and said to his
brother:
"Arise! Let us go!"
They went away to a place where was sleeping the one who had taken the
money. The other took away the _dirkhems_ and departed, leaving the
first asleep. When he awaked he found nothing. He started in pursuit of the
other, and when he arrived he found him dying of illness. The latter had
said to his wife, "Bury me." She buried him. He who had first stolen the
money went away. He said, "It is an ox."
"It is I, my friend," he cried. "Praise be to God, my friend! May your days
pass in happiness!" Beddou said to him: "Let us go for a hunt."