Bhanavar departed, and the blessing of Rukrooth was on her head. She
went forth fairly mounted on a fresh steed; beside her two warriors of
them that were left to guard the encampment of the tribe of Ruark in his
absence; and Rukrooth watched at the threshold of her tent for the coming
of Ruark.

When it was middle night, and the splendour of the moon was beaming on
the edge of the desert, Bhanavar alighted to rest by the twigs of a
tamarisk that stood singly on the sands. The two warriors tied the
fetlocks of their steeds, and spread shawls for her, and watched over her
while she slept. And the damsel dreamed, and the roaring of the lion was
hoarse in her dream, and it was to her as were she the red whirlwind of
the desert before whom all bowed in terror, the Arab, the wild horsemen,
and the caravans of pilgrimage; and none could stay her, neither could
she stay herself, for the curse of Allah was on men by reason of her
guilt; and she went swinging great folds of darkness across kingdoms and
empires of earth where joy was and peace of spirit; and in her track
amazement and calamity, and the whitened bones of noble youths, valorous
chieftains. In that horror of her dream she stood up suddenly, and
thrust forth her hands as to avert an evil, and advanced a step; and with
the act her dream was cloven and she awoke, and lo! it was sunrise; and
where had been two warriors of the Beni-Asser, were now five, and besides
her own steed five others, one the steed of Ruark, and Ruark with them
that watched over her: pale was the visage of the Chief. Ruark eyed
Bhanavar, and signalled to his followers, and they, when they had lifted
the damsel to her steed and placed her in their front, mounted likewise,
and flourished their lances with cries, and jerked their heels to the
flanks of their steeds, and stretched forward till their beards were
mixed with the tossing manes, and the dust rose after them crimson in the
sun. So they coursed away, speeding behind their Chief and Bhanavar;