and was intoxicated with success.  But when he asked that a day should be fixed for the wedding, Djaida begged him to approach, and said to him:  “If you desire that I become your wife, fulfil first of all my wishes, and keep the engagement I make with you.  This is my demand:  I wish that on the day of my marriage, some nobleman’s daughter, a free-born woman, hold the bridle of my camel; she must be the daughter of a prince of the highest rank, so that I may be the most honored of all the daughters of Arabia.”  Khaled consented, and prepared to carry out her wishes.  That very day he started with his horsemen, and traversed plains and valleys, searching the land of Ymer, even till he reached the country of Hijar and the hills of Sand.  In this place he attacked the tribe-family of Moawich, son of Mizal.  He burst upon them like a rain-storm, and cutting a way with his sword through the opposing horsemen, he took prisoner Amima, daughter of Moawich, at the very moment when she was betaking herself to flight.

After having accomplished feats which rendered futile the resistance of the most experienced heroes, after having scattered all the tribes in flight, and carried off all the wealth of all the Arabs in that country, he returned home.  But he did not wish to come near his tents until he had first gathered in all the wealth which he had left at different points and places in the desert.

The young maidens marched before him sounding their cymbals and other instruments of music.  All the tribe rejoiced; and when Khaled appeared, he distributed clothing to the widows and orphans, and invited his companions and friends to the feast he was preparing for his wedding.  All the Arabs of the country came in a crowd to the marriage.  He caused them to be regaled with abundance of flesh and wine.  But while all the guests abandoned themselves to feasting and pleasure, Khaled, accompanied by ten slaves, prepared to scour the wild and marshy places of the land, in order to attack hand to hand in their caverns the lions and lionesses and their cubs, and bear them slain to the tents, in order to provide meat for all those who attended the festival.

Djaida had been informed of this design.  She disguised herself in coat of mail, mounted her horse, and left the tents; as three days of festivities still remained, she hastily followed Khaled into the desert, and met him face to face in a cavern.  She flung herself upon him with the impetuosity of a wild beast, and attacked him furiously, crying aloud, “Arab! dismount from your horse, take off your coat of mail, and your armor; if you hesitate to do so, I will run this lance through your heart.”  Khaled was resolved at once to resist her in this demand.  They engaged in furious combat.  The struggle lasted for more than an hour, when the warrior saw in the eyes of his adversary an expression which alarmed him.  He remounted his horse, and having wheeled round his steed from the place of combat, exclaimed: