Ali translated the gracious words to Robin, after expressing his sense of his brother's kindness by pressing his hand on his own heart.
Robin overjoyed, darted off to bear the good tidings to Harold.
Faiz ul Din then inquired of Ali why he had deemed him dead, and had taken no means to ascertain whether the blow were fatal or not.
"It is not every stroke that slays," he observed.
"It was Hassan who told me that thy wound was mortal, and that our mother had vowed never to forgive him who had caused thy death."
"The lying slave!" exclaimed Faiz ul Din. "Brother, thou hast asked one favour of me, grant me one in return: Give that villain the bastinado."
"He is beyond our reach," replied Ali, and he pointed significantly to the ground.
"One villain the less on earth," was Faiz ul Din's phlegmatic remark.
The Persian brothers did not remain long together, or their renewed union might not have lasted long. Faiz ul Din showed neither surprise nor regret when Ali informed him that he himself was going for a second time to India, where he was likely to remain long, perhaps to the end of his life. Faiz ul Din looked upon Ali rather as a rival, than as his nearest living relative. The younger brother was willing that the elder one should go wherever he listed, so that he returned not to Persia.
It was not convenient that the two caravans should encamp at the same spot, as renewed quarrels between the retainers would be almost certain to ensue. Faiz ul Din was secretly glad when Ali gave orders to his followers to renew their march, though from courtesy, he remonstrated against such a speedy departure. The Amir was not now going towards Djauf, but to the south-west, towards the Red Sea, the wants of his party being supplied by the generosity of Faiz ul Din. The course of the two Persian brothers would be in different directions, and their paths were never likely to cross each other again.