As soon as King Cais had regained his tents he hastened to tell his slaves to begin the training of his horses, and to pay especial attention to Dahir.  Then he told his kinsmen all that had taken place between himself and Hadifah.  Antar was present at this recital, and as he took great interest in all that concerned the king, he said, “Cais, calm your fears, keep your eyes well open, run the race, and have no fear.  For, by the faith of an Arab, if Hadifah makes any trouble or misunderstanding, I will kill him, as well as the whole tribe of Fazarah.”

The conversation on this subject continued until they reached the tents, which Antar declined to enter before seeing Dahir.  He walked several times round this animal, and saw at a glance that the horse actually possessed qualities which astonished any one who saw him.

Hadifah quickly learned the return of Antar, and knew that the hero was encouraging King Cais to run the race.  Haml, Hadifah’s brother, had also heard the news, and in the distress which he felt remarked to Hadifah, “I fear lest Antar should fall upon me, or some one of the family of Beder, and kill us, and thus render us disgraced.  Give up this race, or we are ruined.  Let me go to King Cais, and I will not leave him until he promises to come to you and cancel the contract.”  “Do as you please,” answered Hadifah.  Thereupon Haml took horse, and went immediately to King Cais.  He found him with his uncle Assyed, a wise and prudent man.  Haml approached Cais, saluted him by kissing his hand, and after saying that he was the bearer of an important message, added:  “Kinsman, you know that my brother Hadifah is a low fellow, whose mind is full of intrigues.  I have spent the last three days in trying to persuade him to cancel this wager.  At last he has said:  ’Very good, if Cais comes to me, and wishes to be released from the contract, I will annul it; but do not let any Arab think that I abandon the bet through fear of Antar.’  Now you, Cais, are aware that the greatest proof of attachment between kinsmen is their willingness to give way to one another.  So I am here to beg that you will come to the dwelling of my brother Hadifah and ask him to give up the race, before it causes trouble, and the tribe be utterly driven away from its territories.”  At this address of Haml, Cais became flushed with shame, for he was trusting and generous.  He at once arose, and leaving his uncle Assyed in charge of his domestic business, he accompanied Haml to the land of Fazarah.  When they were midway on their journey Haml began to utter lavish praises of Cais to the latter’s face, and to blame his own brother’s faults, in the following terms:  “O Cais, do not let your wrath be stirred up against Hadifah, for he is verily a man headstrong and unjust in his actions.  O Cais, if you persist in holding to the bet, great disasters will follow.  Both you and he are impulsive and passionate, and this is what causes me to feel anxiety about you, Cais.  Put aside your private feelings, be kind and generous, and it will come to pass that the oppressor himself will become the oppressed.”