" She says: "God make
thy tent empty. Thou'lt die soon, and thou thinkest of kisses?"
"Truly I am going to die, and I die for thee. I love thee more than the
whole world. Let me kiss thee once. I'll have a moment of joy, and then
I'll die." She bends over him, and he kisses her.
She says, "What dost thou want?"
"That thou shalt untie me." She unties him. He says to her: "Keep silent.
Do not speak a word." Then he unfastens the shackles that bind his feet,
puts on his cloak, takes his gun, draws out the old charge and loads it
anew, examines the flint-lock and sees that it works well. Then he says to
the woman, "Lift up the Targui." The latter awakes.
"Why," says he, "didst thou not kill me in my sleep?"
"Because thou didst not kill me when I was in the well. Get up. Stand down
there, while I stand here."
The Targui obeys, and says to the Soufi: "Fire first."
"No, I'll let thee fire first."
The woman speaks: "Strike, strike, O Targui, thou art not as strong as the
Soufi."
The Targui rises, fires, and now the woman gives voice to a long
"you--you.
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