"He is a man!" said
Zeyn and that was the praise that he considered highest. The big
Christian rode strongly a strong horse; he did not fret over small
troubles nor apparently fear great ones; he did not say, "This is my
way," and infer that it was better than others; he liked the red
camel, the white, and the brown. "Who dances with the sand is not
stifled," said Zeyn.
Now he found the Christian with Hassan, listening at ease, stretched
upon the sand, to Ali the Wanderer. The head man, welcomed, listened,
too, to Ali bringing his story to a close. "That is good, Ali the
Wanderer! Just where grows the tree from which one gathers that
fruit?"
"It can't be told unless you already know," said Ali.
"Allah my refuge! Then I would not be asking you!" answered Zeyn. "I
should have shaken the tree and gathered the diamonds, rubies, and
emeralds, and been off with them!"
"You did not hear what was said. Ibn the Happy found that they could
not be taken from the tree. He had tried what you propose. He broke
off a great number and ran away with them. But they turned to black
dust in his bosom. He put them all down, and when he looked back he
saw them still shining on the tree."
"What did Ibn the Happy do?"
"He climbed into the tree and lived there."
In the distance jackals were barking. "I like nothing better than
listening to stories," said Zeyn al-Din.
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