2. Accordingly, dressed like a private individual, without arms or attendants, he set out for the cadi's town, mounted on a docile Arabian steed.

He arrived there, and was just entering the gate, when a cripple, seizing the border of his garment, asked him fis in the name of the prophet Bou-Akas gave him money, but the cripple still maintained his hold.

3. "What dost thou want?" asked the sheik.* "I have already given thee alms."

"Yes," replied the beggar, "but the law says, not only-Thou shalt give alms to thy brother,' but also, Thou shalt do for thy brother whatsoever thou canst.' 999

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"Well! and what can I do for thee?" 4. "Thou canst save me, ture that I am!

poor crawling creafrom being trodden under the feet of men, horses, mules, and camels, which would certainly happen to me in passing through the crowded square, in which a fair is now going on." "And how can I save thee?"

5. "By letting me ride behind you, and putting me down safely in the market-place, where I have business."

"Be it so," replied Bou-Akas. And, stooping down, he helped the cripple to get up behind him; a business which was not accomplished without much difficulty.

6. The strangely-assorted riders attracted many eyes as they passed through the crowded streets; and at length they reached the market-place.

"Is this where you wish to stop?" asked BouAkas.

"Yes."

"Then get down."
"Get down yourself."

* Pronounced sheek.

"What for?"

7."To leave me the horse."

"To leave you my horse! What mean you by that?"

"I mean that he belongs to me.

Know you not that we are now in the town of the just cadi, and that, if we bring the case before him, he will certainly decide in my favor?"

8. " Why should he do so, when the animal belongs to me?"

"Don't you think that, when he sees us two, you, with your strong, straight limbs, which Allah has given you for the purpose of walking, and I with my weak legs and distorted feet, he will decree that the horse shall belong to him who has most need of him?"

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9. "Should he do so, he would not be the just cadi," said Bou-Akas.

"O, as to that," replied the cripple, laughing, although he is just, he is not infallible."

"So!" thought the sheik to himself, "this will be a capital opportunity of judging the judge." He said aloud, "I am content we will go before the cadi."

10. Arrived at the tribunal, where the judge, according to the Eastern custom, was publicly administering justice, they found that two trials were about to go on, and would, of course, take precedence of theirs.

11. The first was between a taleb, or learned man, and a peasant. The point in dispute was the taleb's wife, whom the peasant asserted to be his own better half, in the face of the philosopher.

12. The woman remained obstinately silent, and would not declare for either; a feature in the case which rendered its decision excessively difficult. The judge heard both sides attentively, reflected for a moment, and then said, "Leave the woman here, and return to-morrow."

13. The learned man and the laborer each bowed and retired; and the next cause was called.

This was a difference between a butcher and an oil seller. The latter appeared covered with oil, and the former was sprinkled with blood.

The butcher spoke first:

14. "I went to buy some oil from this man, and, in order to pay him for it, I drew a handful of money from my purse. The sight of the money tempted him. He seized me by the wrist. I cried out, but he would not let me go; and here we are, having come before your worship, I holding my money in my hand, and he still grasping my wrist. Now, I assert that this man is a liar, when he says that I stole his money; for the money is truly mine own."

"This man came to purchase oil from me. When his bottle was filled, he said, 'Have you change for a piece of gold?' I searched my pocket, and drew out my hand full of money, which I laid on a bench in my shop. He seized it, and was walking off with my money and my oil, when I caught him by the wrist, and cried out, Robber!'

16. "In spite of my cries, however, he would not surrender the money; so I brought him here, that your worship might decide the case. Now, I assert that this man is a liar, when he says that I want to steal his money; for it is truly mine own."

17. The cadi caused each plaintiff to repeat his story, but neither varied one jot from his original statement. He reflected for a moment, and then said, "Leave the money with me, and return to

morrow."

18. The butcher placed the coins, which he had never let go, on the edge of the cadi's mantle. After which, he and his opponent bowed to the tribunal and departed.

It was now the turn of Bou-Akas and the cripple. 19. "My lord cadi," said the former, "I came hither from a distant country, with the intention of purchasing merchandise. At the city gate I met this cripple, who first asked for alms, and then prayed me to allow him to ride behind me through the streets, lest he should be trodden down in the crowd.

20. "I consented, but, when we reached the market-place, he refused to get down, asserting that my horse belonged to him, and that your worship would surely adjudge it to him who wanted it most. That, my lord cadi, is precisely the state of the

case."

21. "My lord," said the cripple, "as I was coming on business to the market, and riding this horse, which belongs to me, I saw this man seated by the roadside, apparently half dead from fatigue. I good naturedly offered to take him on the crupper, and let him ride as far as the market-place, and he eagerly thanked me.

22. "But what was my astonishment, when, on our arrival, he refused to get down, and said that my horse was his. I immediately required him to appear before your worship, in order that you might decide between us. That is the true state of the case."

23. Having made each repeat his deposition, and having reflected for a moment, the cadi said, "Leave the horse here, and return to-morrow."

It was done, and Bou-Akas and the cripple with. drew in different directions.

1. On the morrow, a number of persons besides those immediately interested in the trials assembled to hear the judge's decisions.

The taleb and the peasant were

called first.

2. "Take away thy wife," said the cadi to the former," and keep her."

Then, turning towards an officer, he added, pointing to the peasant," Give this man fifty blows." He was instantly obeyed, and the taleb carried off his wife.

3. Then came forward the oil merchant and the butcher.

"Here," said the cadi to the butcher, "is thy money; it is truly thine, and not his." Then, pointing to the oil merchant, he said to his officer, "Give this man fifty blows."

4. It was done, and the butcher went away in triumph with his money.

The third cause was called, and Bou-Akas and the cripple came forward.

"Would'st thou recognize thy horse among twenty others?" said the judge to Bou-Akas. 5. "Yes, my lord."

"And thou?"

"Certainly, my lord," replied the cripple. "Follow me," said the cadi to Bou-Akas.

6. They entered a large stable, and Bou-Akas pointed out his horse amongst the twenty which were standing side by side.

"'Tis well," said the judge. "Return now to the tribunal, and send me thine adversary hither."

7. The disguised sheik obeyed, delivered his message, and the cripple hastened to the stable, as quickly as his distorted limbs allowed. He possessed quick eyes and a good memory, so that he