Page:Folk-lore of the Holy Land.djvu/242

However, the ghûleh had an advantage over her adversary in this respect, that she could change her form at will.

Well, one day the ghûleh came in the guise of an old woman to the foot of the rock on which Uhdey-dûn’s house stood, and called out: “O Uhdey-dûn, my uncle, won’t you accompany me to the forest^[1] to-morrow that we may get some wood?” Now Uhdey-dûn was sharp and he knew that if the ghûleh got hold of him all alone she would kill and eat him. So, not to offend her, he answered, “Do not take the trouble to come here for me, for I will meet you in the forest to-morrow morning.” Next morning, very early, Uhdey-dûn, who knew of a very short way to the forest, took his hatchet and long needle and a sack and went there. He was there long before the ghûleh reached the spot, and he at once cut down a great deal of wood and filled his sack, leaving a hollow place in the middle into which he crawled. He then tied up the sack and remained perfectly quiet till the ghûleh appeared. How he managed to tie up the sack when he was inside it I do not know, but he was a clever man. In time the ghûleh came, and when she saw the sack and smelt Uhdey-dûn, she looked about for him, but could not find him. At last, tired of hunting for him, she said, “I shall carry this sackful of wood to my cave, and then come back to kill my enemy.” So she lifted the sack and put it on her back. As soon as she had gone a few steps, Uhdey-dûn gave