“He approached with the caution of a hunter coming near a wounded lion, till he reached the spot, and looked upon his face.
“Rabîah was dead!
“Then pity took possession of the heart of Fèsal, and having told his followers to place the body of Rabîah and of his horse gently on one side, he galloped alone after the party which had retreated through the gap. He knew that his sister was one; and seeing that they prepared to shoot their arrows, he called to them—
“‘Put away your weapons; this is the hour of grief and not of war.’ And he drew near to the litter, and said—
“‘Sad is the news of my tongue—Rabîah is dead—the Lion of the Nejd is no more.’
“Then a piercing shriek came from the sister of Rabîah, and she cried—
“‘Let us go back to him.’
“Selma spoke not a word; a great stone was upon her heart, and speech and tears were denied her.
“So they turned back; and when they reached the spot there was a dead silence, while the camel was made to kneel down, and the two maidens came forth.
“Rabîah’s sister wept and sobbed, holding her dead brother’s hand; but Selma threw herself on the body of her beloved, and cast her arms about his neck, and again she pressed her lips to his cold lips. None dared to move her, and Allah had mercy upon her, and her soul passed away in that last kiss.