AHMED EL HILALIEU AND EL REDAH
Ahmed el Hilalieu was not loved by people in general. His enemies went and
found an old sorceress, and spoke to her as follows: "O sorceress, we want
you to drive this man out of our country. Ask what you will, we will give
it to you!"
She said to them: "May God gladden your faces. Call aloud. Our man will
come out and I will see him." They obeyed her, crying out that a camel had
escaped. Straightway Ahmed goes to find his father, and tells him his
intention of going to join in the search. He starts forth mounted on his
courser, and on the way meets some people, who tell him, "It is nothing."
He makes a half turn, not forgetting to water his horse, and meets at the
fountain the sorceress, who was drawing water.
"Let me pass," he said to her, "and take your buckskin out of my way."
"You may pass," she answered. He started his horse, which stepped on the
buckskin and tore it.
"You who are so brave with a poor woman," she said, "would you be able to
bring back Redah Oum Zaid?"
"By the religion of Him whom I adore, you shall show me where this Redah
lives or I'll cut off your head.
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