Page:Folk-lore of the Holy Land.djvu/181

“Perjurer! You have broken your solemn oath!” “You lie,” replied the youngster, “I have done no harm to any living thing.” “What, then is the meaning of that noise.” “I cannot think; unless it be that the Sheykh’s stallion has got loose. He was tethered to a tent-peg, and I thought I would see if he was securely fastened. Perhaps I loosened the peg a little.” From this answer comes the saying, when someone does much mischief indirectly: “He only moved the tent-peg.”

Karakoz and ’Iweyz were two rogues who had long lived on terms of the closest amity, sharing the toils and dangers, as well as the fruits, of rascality. But a time came when they spoke no more to one another.

’Iweyz was sitting one day in his dwelling, cudgelling his brains for some new trick by which to fill his empty purse when there came to him one of his acquaintance, a youth whose father had just died. After the usual salutations, the visitor told ’Iweyz that his father had left him one thousand dinars, but that he had not yet made up his mind what to do with them. Meanwhile he was anxious to find some honest person who would take charge of them for him, till he, the owner, could decide upon a line of business; and he asked ’Iweyz whether he would do him the favour. Though inwardly delighted at the offer, the rogue assumed the greatest aversion, crying, “No! no! no! go and find someone else to take charge of your money, I cannot