The sheykh made him rise, and explained to him the occurrence as most natural. “Seeing thou hadst ceased from pursuing, thy camel tired of playing alone and came of his own accord to look for thee.”
But the owner of the camel would not be convinced, any more than would the bystanders, that the event was less than a miracle. The Circassians congratulated one another, whispering:
“Now is it clear that he knows the language of beasts; for how else could he read the mind of this camel, that he is tired of playing alone? By Allah, he is no less than a prophet. Praise to the Highest, who has made us his companions.”
“Where sleep you to-night?” asked the camel’s master, wiping his eyes on the sleeve of his robe.
They answered him: “At Es-Salt, whither thou also goest.”
“Good. Then I travel with you.”
Throughout the rest of the journey, which was very monotonous, the eyes of that fellâh dwelt upon Shems-ud-dìn, raptly staring as at a vision. In the town of Es-Salt it would have been hard to find a lodging for the women, since the only khan was filled with a caravan bound to Bûsra from the Holy City; but this man took them to the house of a friend of his, who, on hearing the case explained, turned out with his family into the adjoining stable, and so made room for them. And when Shems-ud-dìn arose in the morning and looked forth, there was this same man squatting patiently beside the threshold.
At sight of the sheykh, he fell down and kissed his feet.
“May thy day be happy, O my master! I seek a boon of thee. Grant me but leave to journey with thee to the Holy Place. I will be no charge upon thee; for I have this hour received the price of my camel.”