“O Lord, I possess but this one only, and a person in Es-Salt, the lord of much wealth, would buy him of me for a journey he makes to-morrow. The price offered is a high one. I would fain receive it. But to-morrow will be too late; the merchant will have gone his way. Would to Allah I had not lain down to sleep! Would that I had never been born to need sleep upon the earth! Be kind now, I entreat you, O my masters! Help me to recover my camel.”
But the Circassians, and Shibli with them, mocked his anguish, saying:
“We sympathize with thee, that is understood. But we be plain men. We meddle not with signs and wonders. Who ever saw the like of this thy quandary? Surely it is upon thee from the hand of Allah.”
At that the poor man put his knuckles to his eyes and wept aloud, cursing the stock of men so heartless.
Shems-ud-dìn frowned upon their wickedness. He was about to use his authority on the man’s behalf when lo! the camel itself came striding round a shoulder of the hill and stood within a few paces of him. The rest beheld not the chance, intent on their evil game.
Very quietly the sheykh walked his horse toward the great beast, which watched his approach without concern, nor demurred even when he grasped the headrope.
“O fellâh, behold thy camel!”
For a moment all were petrified. Then wild cries arose: “A wonder!”—“A sign from Allah!”—“The Lord has ordained a miracle at the hand of the saintly Shems-ud-dìn!”—“Run, O poor man! Make haste to kiss the earth between his horse’s feet!”
The fellâh did as they bade him. He ran, and falling on the ground, flattened himself before the horse of Shems-ud-dìn, crying:
“Deign to ride over me, O favored of Allah! Behold, I am the dust of thy pathway!”