drove them along the public road. Then, indeed, while passing by the place where the guards were, he secretly loosened two or three wine skins. When the wine began to flow out, he beat his head, uttering loud cries, as if thunderstruck at his loss. The guards, who saw much wine spilt, ran into the road, holding cups and collecting the wine as it flowed out. But he assailed them with abuse. But on the guards consoling him, his anger subsided by degrees. At length he drove his asses from the middle of the road, and began to load them again. Then while much conversation ensued, he gave them one of the wine skins. Then all sitting down, gave their mind to a drinking bout. Soon he presented them with another wine skin, and they using the drink in abundance became drunk, and being overwhelmed with drowsiness, fell asleep in the same place in which they had drank. Then, indeed, the night being now far advanced, he took down the body of his brother, and shaved the right cheeks of the guards for the sake of insult. Then he returned home with the asses, having placed the corpse on them.
The reward of audacity.
100.The deed was announced to the king, a thing which he at first took very ill; afterwards, however, being astonished both by the audacity and address of the man, he promised a pardon and great gifts. The thief, trusting the proclamation, came to the king, who induced by great admiration of the man, gave him his daughter in marriage.
III.OIL WELLS.
101.Not far from the city of Ardeiicca there are wells, which produce three different kinds of things. For both bitumen and salt and oil are drawn from them in this way. They draw by the help of a swing beam, to which is fastened a bucket; they pour what they have drawn from the well into a large vessel; from which it is again removed to another receptacle, and so is changed into a threefold form. Both the asphalte and the salt grow hard; but they collect the oil into a vessel; now it is black and exhales an unpleasant smell.
