Why else should you say, 'Ride forward and I will follow' ?" Safdar Khan walked for a little while in silence.

Then in a voice of humility, he said: "I will tell my lord the truth.

Yes, some foolish talk has passed from one man to another, and has been thrown back again like a ball.

I too," he admitted, "have been without wisdom.

But I have seen how vain such talk is.