And much I doubt," he laughed as he spoke--"much I doubt, O son of Arrius, if the tribe could endure her absence.

She is their glory; they worship her; did she gallop over them, they would laugh.

Ten thousand horsemen, sons of the desert, will ask to-day, 'Have you heard of Mira ?' And to the answer, 'She is well,' they will say, 'God is good! blessed be God!'" "Mira--Sirius--names of stars, are they not, O sheik ?" asked Ben-Hur, going to each of the four, and to the sire, offering his hand.
"And why not ?" replied Ilderim.

"Wert thou ever abroad on the desert at night ?" "No." "Then thou canst not know how much we Arabs depend upon the stars.
We borrow their names in gratitude, and give them in love.

My fathers all had their Miras, as I have mine; and these children are stars no less.