Someone ran with the news to the old graybeard and said: “You are ruined. Go at once to your field, for before night he will destroy the other three beds.”
The graybeard rose early and went out and saw his field was laid waste. He glanced about and saw David coming with a falcon on his hand. The graybeard cursed David and said: “Dost thou not fear God? Dost thou test thy strength on my grain-field? I have seven mouths to fill, and seven millet beds. Four thou hast destroyed, and three remain I If you are brave, go and get back your inheritance that extends from the summit of Mount Zözmak as far as Sechanssar. Mösramelik has taken it from you and draws wealth from it. Go and get it back. Why try your strength on me?”
But David answered: “Old man, curse me not. Here is a handful of gold—use it.” And as he said it he killed his falcon.
David returned home and said: “Uncle Toross, go and bring me my father's staff and bow. I am going to make war, for others consume my inheritance and none of you have said anything about it to me.”
Uncle Toross arose and demanded of Zöranwegi in David’s name the staff and bow of Abamelik, but Zöranwegi refused it. David sent a second time, saying: “If you give it to me, good. If not, I will see to it that your head flies off and only your body remains.”
Zöranwegi was frightened, and surrendered the bow and baton, and Uncle Toross brought them to David. And David fell asleep and dreamed. The next day he took forty calves and went to holy Maratuk,[1] where he slaughtered the forty calves and bathed in their blood. Then he fell on his face and prayed and wept until God sent from heaven a sacred sign and a token. Even now the holy sign is to be found in Hawar at the house of Sork. David kissed the holy sign and put it under the right shoulder, and the token under the left.
Mösramelik knew that David, Abamelik’s son, was come into manhood, and he gathered together a host to march against him. And he appointed a holbaschi,[2] who prepared
