Then came up El Abbas to the door of the tent, and therein were four-and-twenty golden doves; so he took them, after he had beaten them down with the end of his lance.  Then he called out, saying, “Harkye, Zuheir!  Doth it not suffice thee that thou hast quelled El Akil’s repute, but thou art minded to quell that of those who sojourn round about him?  Knowest thou not that he is of the lieutenants of Kundeh ben [Hisham of the Benou] Sheiban, a man renowned for prowess?  Indeed, covetise of him hath entered into thee and jealousy of him hath gotten possession of thee.  Doth it not suffice thee that thou hast orphaned his children[FN#94] and slain his men?  By the virtue of the Chosen Prophet, I will make thee drink the cup of death!” So saying, he drew his sword and smiting Zuheir on his shoulder, caused the steel issue, gleaming, from the tendons of his throat.  Then he smote the vizier and clove his head in sunder.

As he was thus, behold, Aamir called out to him and said, “O my lord, come to my help, or I am a dead man!” So El Abbas went up to him and found him cast down on his back and chained with four chains to four pickets of iron.  He loosed his bonds and said to him, “Go before me, O Aamir.”  So he fared on before him a little, and presently they looked, and behold, horsemen making to Zuheir’s succour, to wit, twelve thousand cavaliers, with Sehl ben Kaab in their van, mounted upon a jet-black steed.  He charged upon Aamir, who fled from him, then upon El Abbas, who said, “O Aamir, cleave fast to my horse and guard my back.”  Aamir did as he bade him, whereupon El Abbas cried out at the folk and falling upon them, overthrew their braves and slew of them nigh two thousand cavaliers, whilst not one of them knew what was to do nor with whom he fought.  Then said one of them to other, “Verily, the king is slain; so with whom do we wage war?  Indeed ye flee from him; so do ye enter under his banners, or not one of you will be saved.”

Thereupon they all dismounted and putting off that which was upon them of harness of war, came before El Abbas and tendered him allegiance and sued for his protection.  So he held his hand from them and bade them gather together the spoils.  Then he took the riches and the slaves and the camels, and they all became his liege-men and his retainers, to the number (according to that which is said) of fifty thousand horse.  Moreover, the folk heard of him and flocked to him from all sides; whereupon he divided [the spoil amongst them] and gave gifts and abode thus three days, and there came presents to him.  Then he bade set out for Akil’s abiding-place; so they fared on six days and on the seventh day they came in sight of the camp.  El Abbas bade his man Aamir forego him and give Akil the glad news of his cousin’s coming.  So he rode on to the camp and going in to Akil, gave him the glad news of Zuheir’s slaughter and the conquest of his tribe.