Show the biter bit A moorish legend A spanish moor being on the eve of setting out on a pilgrimage to A mecca lecca in trusted ed all his money to a man who had hitherto borne a reputation for unblemished probity his hia fortu fortune ile lle consisted of two thousand besanty be on his return he was not a little surprised when the reputed honest man denied all knowledge of himself or his money the pilgrim enter entered ed a complaint against him entreated the judge to help him to his property and took his oath on the truth of his statement but all in vain the old mans good name outweighed all he could baythe say bay the plaintiff was ivas non suited and went away in in despair presently he met an old woman who was toddling along with the help ot of a staff touched by the str strangers angers aDgers grief she shei stopped him hailed him in name bid him take heart and having listened to his bis unvarnished tale said be of good 0 d cheer beer heer young man may be with A llad ilav a name I 1 shall get back your gold do you buy a chest and fill it with sand or mould only let it be bound with iron iron and well locked then choose three or four discreet men and come tome to me we shall succeed never fear the spanish moor followed her advice punctually he came with four friends bin bining bringing C ing a chest cheat which the strongest porters could scarcely drag along now follow me said the old woman on deachin reaching I 1 I 1 the door of the supposed honest man she N went vent in with the spaniards four fri friends enas ends bidding the latter wait below and not make his big appearance until the chest had bad been cari carl carried led up stairs she now stood in the presence of the hypocrite when she introduced her four companions saying sayings beholds here are some honest spaniards about to make a pilgrimage to em egypt I 1 pt their treasures are boundless the they y possess J among other things ten chests full of gold and silver that they know not where to stow away just at present they would entrust them to safe hands for a time so it I 1 well knowing your honesty and unsullied reputation uta tion have brought them hither pray fulfill their wishes meanwhile she had bad the heavy chest brought in which the pretended honest man gloated over with greedy looks but just then the despoiled pilgrim rushed in impetuously claiming back his two thousand besanty be the faithless depository was wag frightened and lest iest the young man should reproach him with his treachery in presence of 0 the strangers who would then take their chest with its untold treasures which he had already determined to appropriate to himself he cried out to the moor be welcome I 1 was almost fearing you would never come back ana and and was puzzled what I 1 should do with the two thousand besanty be allah be who has brought you back safe here is what belongs to you the spanish moor went away with his treasure as triumphant aa as though he was carrying off so much booty the old woman begged the master of the house honse to put this first chest in a safe place while she went and ordered the rest to be sent she then sheered sheered off with her four companions and of course never returned |