Page:Folk-lore of the Holy Land.djvu/189

in a field beside the road, and went towards it. It came from a little mud-roofed hut, the abode of a poor goatherd. The man himself was out at work, but his wife and mother bade the strangers welcome in his absence. A few minutes later he came home, bringing with him four goats which were all his substance. The children, running out, told him guests had arrived, and he at once came in and saluted them. Having assured them that his house was theirs, he asked to be excused for a minute, and going to the owners of the flock he tended, begged two loaves of wheaten bread, as he could not set coarse dhurrah^[1] bread before his guests. The two loaves with some eggs, curds,^[2] and olives, made a tempting meal. “But pardon us,” said the Sultan, “we are under a vow not to eat anything but bread and kidneys for a year and a day.” Without a word, the host went out, killed his four goats, and broiled their kidneys. But the Sultan, when they were set before him, said, “ We have a vow to eat nothing until after midnight. We will take this with us, and eat it when our vow has expired. And now, I grieve to say, we must be going.” The goatherd and his family begged them to stay till morning, but in vain.

When the masqueraders were once more alone on the highway, the Sultan said, “Now let us try the wazìr! They reached his house, from which streamed light and music; he was entertaining. The humble request of two derwìshes for food and lodging was promptly refused; and when