CHAPTER XXX.
THE UNWALLED VINEYARD One morning, as we rode along, we came to vineyards on a valley-side.
Rashid dismounted and began to pick the grapes.

Suleyman dismounted likewise, and invited me to do the same.
'But it is stealing,' I objected.
'Allah! Allah!' moaned Suleyman, as one past patience.

He hung his head a moment, limp all over, as if the spirit had been taken out of him; then called out to Rashid, who was devouring grapes: 'Return, O malefactor, O most wicked robber! Thou art guilty of a fearful crime.

Thy master says so.' Rashid came back to us immediately, bringing a purple bunch, which he was going to give to me when Suleyman prevented him, exclaiming: 'Wouldst dishonour our good lord by placing in his hands the fruit of infamy, as if he were a vile accomplice of thy crime?
For shame, O sinful depredator, O defrauder of the poor!' Rashid gaped at him, and then looked at me.

I held out my hand for the grapes.
'Touch them not, for they are stolen!' cried Suleyman.
'I know not what thou wouldst be at, O evil joker,' said Rashid, with warmth; 'but if thou callest me a thief again, I'll break thy head.' '_I_ call thee thief?
Thou art mistaken, O my soul! By Allah! I am but the mouthpiece of thy master here, who says that to pluck grapes out of this vineyard is to steal.' Rashid looked towards me, half incredulous, and, seeing that I ate the grapes with gusto, answered with a laugh: 'He does not understand our customs, that is all.