Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 5.djvu/19

and that we put them into ten Bags, T will ſhow’you that I have not touch’d one of them; and having ſaid ſo, he put his Hand among ſome old Lumber, and taking out the Bags one after another, gave them to his Comrades, ſaying there they are, you may judge by their Weight that they are whole, or you may tell them if you pleaſe. His Comrades anſwer’d there was no need, they did not miſtruſt him; ſo he opened one of the Bags, and took out ten Drachms, and each of the other blind Men did the like.

My Brother put the Bags into their Place again: After which, one of the blind Menſays to him, There is no need to lay out any thing for Supper, for he had got as much Victuals from good People as would ſerve them all three. At the ſame time he took out of his Bag Bread and Cheeſe, and ſome Fruit, and putting all upon the Table, they began to eat. The Highway-man who ſat at my Brother’s Right-Hand, pick’d out the beſt, and eat with them; but whatever Care he took to make no Noiſe, Backback heard his Chaps going, and cry’d out immediately, We are undone, there is a Stranger among us; and having ſaid ſo, he ſtretch’d out his Hand, and catching hold of the Highway-man by the Arm, cry’d out Thieves, fell upon him and box’d him. The other blind Men fell upon him in like manner, and the Highway-man defended him as well as he could; and being young and vigorous, and having the Advantage of his Eyes, he gave furious Blows, ſometime to one, ſometime to another, as he could come at them, and cry’d out Thieves louder than they did. The Neighbours came running at the Noiſe, broke open the Door, and had much ado to ſeparate the Combitants; but having at laſt done it; they ask’d the Cauſe of their Quarrel. My Brother, who ſtill had hold of the Highway man, cry’d out, Gentlemen, This Man that I have hold on is a Thief, and ſtole in with us on purpoſe to rob us of the little Money we have. The Thief, who ſhut his Eyes as ſoon as the Neighbours came, feign’d himſelf alſo to be blind, and crys out Gentlemen, he is a Liar, I ſwear to you by Heaven, and by the Life of the Califf, that I am their Companion, and they refuſe to give me my juſt Share. They have all three fallen upon me, and I demand Juſtice. The Neighbours would not med-