At these words the heart of Hadifah swelled with rage and indignation, and he swore with an oath that he would not let his horse run that day, but that he wished the race to take place at sunrise, next morning.  This delay was indispensable to him in preparing the act of perfidy which he meditated, for he had no sooner seen Dahir than he was speechless with astonishment at the beauty and perfections of the horse.

The judges had already dismounted and the horsemen of the various tribes were preparing to return home, when Shidoub began to cry out with a loud voice, “Tribes of Abs, of Adnan, of Fazarah and of Dibyan, and all here present attend to me for an instant, and listen to words which shall be repeated from generation to generation.”  All the warriors stood motionless.  “Speak on,” they cried, “what is your will?  Perhaps there may be something good in your words.”  “Illustrious Arabs,” continued Shidoub, “you know what happened in consequence of the match between Dahir and Ghabra:  I assure you on my life that I will outstrip both of them in running, even were they swifter than the wind.  But listen to the condition I offer; if I am the winner, I am to take the hundred camels which are at stake; but if I am beaten, I am to forfeit fifty.”  Upon this one of the Sheiks of Fazarah exclaimed, “What is that you are saying, vile slave?  Why should you receive a hundred camels if you win and only forfeit fifty if you lose?” “Do you ask why, ancient mire of a dunghill,” replied Shidoub, “because I have but two legs to run on and a horse has four, not counting his tail.”  All the Arabs burst out laughing; yet as they were astonished at the conditions proposed by Shidoub, and extremely curious to see him run the race, they agreed that he should make the hazardous experiment.

When all had returned to the tents Antar said to Shidoub:  “Come, now, thou son of a cursed mother, how dared thou say that thou couldst outstrip these two horses, whose race all horsemen of our tribes have assembled to see, and who all the world admits have no equals in speed, not even among the birds of the air?” “By him who created the springs in the rocks and who knows all things,” replied Shidoub, “I will outstrip those two horses, be they fleet as the winds.  Yes, and my victory will have an advantageous result, for when the Arabs hear of it, they will give up all idea of pursuing me, when I run across the desert.”  Antar laughed, for he was in doubt about Shidoub’s plan.  The latter went to find King Cais and his brothers, and the other witnesses of the race, and made oath on his life that he would outstrip the two horses.  All present acknowledged themselves witnesses of the oath, and left the spot, filled with astonishment at the proposition.