All at once, as the black donkey came ambling by, the pair sprang up suddenly, while the elder presented a large and very curious pistol at the rider’s head.
Upon that, seeing the miscreants were two, himself but one, the servant turned and fled with the open sunshade. A minute later, when the fat man lay on the ground, puffing and cursing beneath the clever hands of Nesìb, Hassan saw that servant afar off, frantically endeavoring to climb a tree, while the parasol, still open, adorned the ground close by, seeming some strange white flower.
At that instant Nesìb swore roundly. The fat man had bitten deep into the wrist of his despoiler.
“Pig of a citizen!” yelled the Thief. “I will tear thy beard out. I will stab thy filthy eyes.”
He kicked his victim, and would have leapt upon the hill of fatness had not Hassan Agha restrained him.
“Nevertheless, he shall be punished, and that at once,” said the Circassian. “We asked but his wealth; Allah witness, we bore no grudge to this man more than to any other. But now, since he curses me and has bitten my companion, the case is altered.”
So saying, he removed the saddlebags from the donkey’s back, then, letting go the bridle, drove his dagger into its flank. The black jackass screamed, plunged, and careered away.
Nesìb, meanwhile, was employed in tearing the raiment off the fallen fat one, now quite paralyzed with rage. The despoiled gasped and gurgled convulsively.
“O Allah, help! Shall men rob and outrage the Câdi of El Cûds, within call of the city, and live? May Allah burn the abode of your wickedness. By Allah, I shall be revenged. The day will come when I shall send you forth to death. All robbers return to me. I am the Câdi.”