A tribesman from the desert was brought before a certain Caliph, so an old legend runs, and because of his continued defiance of authority was sentenced to be executed. It fortunately happened for him that just as the sentence was about to be carried into effect, the Caliph's son and heir was brought to him, and in the name of that son the Caliph set the prisoner free. The tribesman, who had been defiant while his life was in danger, melted when compassion was shown him, promises to mend his ways, and notifies the Caliph that if danger ever threatens him he, the tribesman would be the Caliph's friend. Some little time later the Caliph died, and a usurper seized the throne. The infant had no one to stand up for him and even his life was in danger, but his mother managed to send him across the desert to Ben Ibrahim, the Arab, hoping that the tribesman would remember his oath. The child reached the camp in safety and the Arab brought him up as his own son, educating him as he should be educated, in the hope that one day he might be able to regain the throne of his father. When the boy became of age, the secret of his birth was told to him, and he determined to win back his birthright or die in the attempt. Not wishing to embroil his foster father, he left the Arab camp in secret, found followers and made a desperate effort to defeat the usurper. The task was rather more than he could accomplish and the battle was going against him when Ben Ibrahim, with the men of the desert, and the reinforcements turned the tide of the battle. After the usurper had been disposed of the grateful young Caliph tried to thank Ben Ibrahim, who simply replied with a smile, "Thus have I repaid to the son the debt I owed the father."
