The Sixteenth Officer’s Story
I went forth one day, purposing to make a journey, and fell in with a man whose wont it was to stop the way. When he came up with me, he offered to slay me and I said to him, “I have nothing with me whereby thou mayst profit.” Quoth he, “My profit shall be the taking of thy life.” “What is the cause of this?” asked I. “Hath there been feud between us aforetime?” And he answered, “No; but needs must I slay thee.” Therewithal I fled from him to the river-side; but he overtook me and casting me to the ground, sat down on my breast. So I sought help of the Sheikh El Hejjaj[FN#156] and said to him, “Protect me from this oppressor!” And indeed he had drawn a knife, wherewith to cut my throat, when, behold, there came a great crocodile forth of the river and snatching him up from off my breast, plunged with him into the water, with the knife still in his hand; whilst I abode extolling the perfection of God the Most High and rendering thanks for my preservation to Him who had delivered me from the hand of that oppressor.’