The New Hampshire Gazette

Adroitness of the Arab Thieves.--The following story is given by M. de Brusseire, as an illustration of the adroitness and audacity of the Arabs in some of their thefts :--An Arab introduced himself by creeping on all fours, like a quadruped, into a tent in which the Bey was reposing, carrying off his clothes and arms, with which he attired himself. The robber quitted the tent very early in the morning, and assuming the manner and haughty carriage of the chief, whom he had left fast asleep, so imposed upon the attendants by his appearance, that they led forth their master's horse, which the Arab mounted and rode off without creating suspicion. An hour afterwards the servants were thunderstruck at hearing the voice of the Bey. proceeding from the tent, calling for assistance. The latter was still more astonished than his servants: the boldness and adroitness of the thief appeared to him totally incomprehensible. After several weeks spent in fruitless endeavors to discover the delinquent, the Bey announced a free pardon to whosoever would acknowledge in what manner his arms had been removed from under the pillow on which he slept. Some days afterwards, the identical Arab presented himself before the Bey, and reminding him of his proclamation, mentioned him to recline on his couch and remain silent, whilst he should explain the mode by which he affected the robbery.

The Arab forthwith dressed and armed himself as before, left the tent, and again deceived the domestics, who brought out for his use a valuable and favorite horse, and, moreover, handed him a most magnificent pipe, thinking all the time that they were waiting on their master. During the whole of this scene the Bey, who saw what was passing, was convulsed with laughter, but his merriment was soon checked, when his prototype fairly made off at full gallop, with his weapons and baggage. It is needless perhaps to mention, that the Arab after this feat, was too cunning to be seen again in those quarters.