“Thou canst not understand it,” answered the venerable man. “Moreover, thy stay with me is short.”
“I will be patient and submissive,” said Moses; “for God’s sake, reject me not.”
“Thou mayest follow me,” said the sage. “But ask me no questions, and wait till I give thee, at my pleasure, the sense of that which thou comprehendest not.”
Moses accepted the condition, and El Khoudr led him to the sea, where was a ship at anchor. The prophet took a hatchet, and cut two timbers out of her side, so that she foundered.
“What art thou doing?” asked Moses; “the people on board the ship will be drowned.”
“Did I not say to thee that thou wouldst not remain patient for long?” said the sage.
“Pardon me,” said Moses; “I forgot what I had promised.”
El Khoudr continued his course. Soon they met a beautiful child who was playing with shells on the sea-shore. The prophet took a knife which hung at his girdle, and cut the throat of the child.
“Wherefore hast thou killed the innocent?” asked Moses, in horror.
“Did I not say to thee,” repeated El Khoudr, “that thy journey with me would be short?”