The five laws of gold—a bag heavy with gold or a clay tablet carved with words of wisdom.

If thou hast thy choice, which would thou choose?

By the flickering light from the fire of desert shrubs, the sun-tanned faces of the listeners

gleamed with interest—the gold, the gold, chorus the twenty-seven—hold Kalabab smiled,

knowingly.

Hark, he resumed, raising his hand, hear the wild dogs out there in the night.

They howl and wail, because they are lean with hunger, yet feed them, and what do they

do?

Fight, strut, then fight, and strut some more, giving no thought to the moral that will

surely come.

Just so it is, with the sons of men, give them a choice of gold and wisdom?

What do they do?

More the wisdom, and waste the gold.

On the morrow they wail, because they have no more gold.

Gold is reserved for those who know its laws, and abide by them.

Kalabab drew his white robe close about his lean legs, for a cool night wind was blowing.

Because thou hast served me faithfully upon our long journey, because thou cared well

for my camels.

Because thou toyled uncomplainingly across the hot sands of the desert.

Because thou fought bravely the robbers that sought to dispoil my merchandise, I will tell

thee this night, the tale of the five laws of gold.

Such a tale as thou never hast heard before.

...