"By the religion of Him whom I adore, you shall show me where this Redah lives or I'll cut off your head."
"Know, then, that she lives far from here, and that there is between her and you no less than forty days' journey."
Ahmed went home, and took as provisions for the journey forty dates of the deglet-nour variety, putting them into his pocket. He mounted his steed and departed.
He goes and goes without stopping, until he comes to the country of the sand. The charger throws his feet forward and buries himself in the sand up to his breast, but soon stops, conquered and worn out by fatigue. Ahmed el Hilalieu then addresses him:
"My good gray horse, of noble mien, the sand,
The cruel sand would eat your very eyes.
The air no longer thy loud whinnies bears,
No strength is left thee in thy head or heart.
The prairies of Khafour I'll give to thee,
With Nouna's eyes I'll quench thy thirst, by God