Part 15

SINDBAD THÉ SAILÒŔ

SINDBAD THÉ SAILÒŔ, after åll hiś advenťurèś and wāndéringś^wond, settlèd down in happïnéss and prosperítý in Bagdad. Hėŕè arè thé storìêś which hê tôld tó^tö hiś frìendś of^uv hiś sevén marvéllòús voyáĝėś.

THÉ FIRST VOYÁĜÈ

Mŷ fāther dîèd whîlè Î wáś^woś yòung and left mê a forťünè. Having nô one^wőnè tó^tö rėstrain mê, Î fell intö bad wayś, bŷ which Î not ônlý wâstėd mŷ tîmè, but injurèd mŷ heàlth, and dėstroyèd mŷ propertý.

When Î récőverèd, Î cóllectéd tógether whåt wáś^woś left of^uv mŷ forťünè, and bøùght merchándîśè, which Î loadėd on bøàrd a vessél for thé port of^uv Balsora.

Dûring thé voyáĝè wê tòuchèd at sevèrál îslándś, wheŕè wê sôld or ėxchânĝèd õυŕ gōōdś. Wê werè one^wőnè day bėcālmèd nėàŕ a småll îslánd. Aś its áppėáránçè wáś^woś invîting, wê dėtermínèd tó^tö dînè upon it. But whîlè wê werè laughing^lāfing and prêpãring for dinner, thé îslánd bėgan tó^tö mövè, and at thé sâmè mômént thé pêòplè in thé ship cållèd out that wê werè on thé back of^uv a monstròús whâlè. Sőmè jumpèd intö thé boat, and őtherś swam tó^tö thé ship; but bėforè Î cōūld get off thé anímál dîvèd intö thé sea, and Î had ônlý tîmè tó^tö catch hôld of^uv a pìêçè of^uv wōōd that had bėèn-been brøùght fróm thé ship tó^tö servè aś a tâblè. Upon this pìêçè of^uv timber Î wáś^woś carrìêd áway bŷ thé currént. Thé őtherś reachèd thé vessél, but a gâlè sprang up and thé ship sailèd without mê. Î floatėd dûring that and thé next night, but thé follôwing morning wáś^woś thrôwn on a småll îslánd.

Î found fresh wåter and früìt. Î lōōkèd ábout for sőmè housè, but found nőnè. Theŕè werè a number of^uv côlts grâzing tógether, but nô trâçėś of^uv őther anímálś. When êvèning ápproachèd Î tōōk sőmè morè früìt and clîmbèd in a tree tó^tö sleep. Ábout midnight thé sound of^uv trumpéts and drumś seemèd tó^tö pass áround thé îslánd, which cóntinûèd until morning, when ágãìn it seemèd tó^tö bê uninhabítėd. On thé next day Î found that thé îslánd wáś^woś småll, and that nô őther land wáś^woś in sight. Î theŕèforè gâvè mŷself up aś lost. Nor werè mŷ fėàŕś lessénèd when Î found that thé shorè áboundėd with ėnormòús serpénts and őther sea monsterś. Î found, however, that they werè timid, and that thé rattling of^uv sticks wōūld mâkè them dîvè intö thé wåter.

Sindbad thé Sailòŕ
Wê Rôwèd aś Fast aś wê Cōūld

Î clîmbèd thé tree next night, and thé drumś and trumpéts rėturnèd aś bėforè. On thé third day, Î had thé satísfaction of^uv sêeing a bodý of^uv men, whö, on landing, werè ástonishèd tó^tö see mê theŕè. Having rėlâtėd tó^tö them how Î câmè hither, they tôld mê they werè gröömś of^uv King Mihrage; that thé îslánd bėlongèd tó^tö ĝênìî, whö viśítėd it evèrý night with drumś and trumpéts; that thé ĝênìî had állowèd their sovèreígn tó^tö train hiś côlts upon thé îslánd; and that they, bêing sent evèrý six mőnths tó^tö sélect sőmè, had árrîvèd for that purpósè.

Thé gröömś carrìêd mê tó^tö King Mihrage, whö állowèd mê ápartménts in hiś paláçè.

One^wőnè day Î saw men unloading a ship in thé harbòŕ, and saw that sőmè of^uv thé bâlèś werè thôśè which Î had sent tó^tö Balsora. Gôing up tó^tö thé captáìn, Î sãìd:

"Captáìn, Î am Sindbad."

"Ŝūrèlý," sãìd hê, "Î and thé passénĝerś saw Sindbad swāllôwèd^swollôwèd in thé wâvèś mãný hundred mîlèś áway."

Sőmè őtherś, however, cőming up, Î wáś^woś recógnîzèd; and thé captáìn then rėstorèd mê thé bâlèś, with mãný cóngraťulâtionś. Î mâdè a valûàblè preśént tó^tö King Mihrage, whö bėstôwèd a rich gift on mê in rėturn; and, having mâdè sőmè advántâĝeòús purchásėś, Î árrîvèd at Balsora, wheŕè, after Î had sôld mŷ gōōdś, Î found mŷself póśśessèd of^uv a hundred thouśánd sêqυinś.

THÉ SECÓND VOYÁĜÈ

Bėcóming wėárý of^uv a qυîét lîfè in Balsora, and having bøùght trâding gōōdś, Î ágãìn went tó^tö sea with sőmè merchánts. After tòuching at sevèrál plâçėś, wê landėd at an uninhabítėd îslánd. Wê ámûśèd õυŕselvèś in diffèrént wayś, but Î, having tâkén mŷ wînè and próviŝìónś, sat down and fell ásleep. When Î áwôkè, Î found that mŷ cómpanĩónś werè gonè, and that thé ship had sailèd. Î clîmbèd tó^tö thé top of^uv a verý high tree, and perçêìvèd at a distánçè an object that wáś^woś verý larĝè and whîtè. Î dėscendėd tó^tö thé ground, and ran tówård this strânĝè-lōōking object. When Î ápproachèd it Î found it wáś^woś ábout fiftý pâçėś in çircumfèrénçè, qυîtè round, and aś smööth aś îvòrý, but had nô sort of^uv ôpéning. It wáś^woś now ålmôst sunset, and suddénlý thé skŷ bėcâmè darkénèd. Î lōōkèd up and beheld a bird of^uv ėnormòús sîzè, möving lîkè a pródiĝìòús cloud tówård mê. Î recóllectėd that Î had hèàŕd of^uv a bird cållèd thé roc, sô larĝè that it cōūld carrý áway yòung eléphánts, and Î theŕèforè cónjecťurèd that thé larĝè object Î had bėèn-been lōōking at wáś^woś thé egg of^uv this bird.

Aś thé bird ápproachèd Î crept clôsè tó^tö thé egg, sô that Î had one^wőnè of^uv thé legś of^uv this wingèd anímál bėforè mê when it álightėd. This limb bêing aś larĝè aś thé truñk of^uv a tree, Î tîèd mŷself firmlý tó^tö it with mŷ turbán.

Thé next morning thé bird flew áway, and carrìêd mê fróm this deśert îslánd. Î wáś^woś bornè sô high that Î cōūld not see thé èàŕth, and then carrìêd downwàŕd sô swiftlý that Î lost mŷ sensėś. When Î récőverèd, Î wáś^woś on thé ground.

Î qυicklý untîèd thé cloth that bound mê, and scãŕçèlý wáś^woś Î free when thé bird, having tâkén up a larĝè serpént, ágãìn flew áway. Î found mŷself in a deep vallêy, thé sîdèś of^uv which werè töö steep tó^tö bê clîmbèd. Aś Î wålkèd up and down in dėspãir Î nôtiçèd that thé vallêy wáś^woś cőverèd with dîàmóndś of^uv ėnormòús sîzè. But Î söön saw őther objects of^uv much less ágrêeáblè áppėáránçè. Immensè serpénts werè peeping out of^uv hôlèś on evèrý sîdè. When night câmè, Î tōōk shelter in a câvè, thé entránçè of^uv which Î gùardėd with thé larĝést stônèś Î cōūld fînd, but thé hissing of^uv thé serpénts ėntîrèlý dėprîvèd mê of^uv sleep. When day rėturnèd, thé serpénts rėtîŕèd tó^tö their hôlèś; and Î câmè out of^uv mŷ câvè, but with ėxtrêmè fėàŕ. Î wålkèd heedléss of^uv thé serpénts until Î bėcâmè wėárý, and then sat down and fell ásleep. Î wáś^woś áwâkénèd bŷ sőmèthing which fell nėàŕ mê. It wáś^woś a larĝè pìêçè of^uv fresh meat, and preśéntlý Î saw sevèrál őther pìêçėś.

Î wáś^woś now cónvinçèd that Î must bê in thé fâmòús vallêy of^uv dîàmóndś, and that thé pìêçėś of^uv meat werè thrôwn in bŷ merchánts, whö ėxpectėd eaglèś tó^tö pounçè upon thé flesh, tó^tö which dîàmóndś werè ålmôst ŝūrè tó^tö ádhėrè. Î hâsténèd tó^tö pick up sőmè of^uv thé larĝést dîàmóndś Î cōūld fînd, which Î pūt intö a littlè bag, and fasténèd it tó^tö mŷ girdlè. Î then sélectėd thé larĝést pìêçè of^uv flesh in thé vallêy, which Î tîèd tó^tö mŷ waist with thé cloth of^uv mŷ turbán, and then lay down upon mŷ fâçè tó^tö wait for thé eaglèś. Verý söön one^wőnè of^uv thé stroñgést pounçèd upon thé meat on mŷ back, and flew with mê tó^tö its nest on thé top of^uv thé mountáìn. Thé merchánts bėgan shouting tó^tö frightén thé eaglèś, and when they had forçèd thé birdś tó^tö qυit their prey, one^wőnè of^uv them câmè tó^tö thé nest wheŕè Î wáś^woś. At first thé man wáś^woś frighténèd when hê saw mê theŕè, but after rėcóvéring himself, askèd mê how Î got theŕè. Î tôld him and thé rest of^uv thé merchánts mŷ storý. Î then ôpénèd mŷ bag, and they dėclãŕèd that they had never seen dîàmóndś of^uv êqυál luster and sîzè with mînè. Thé merchánts having gatherèd their dîàmóndś tógether, wê left thé plâçè thé next morning, and crossèd thé mountáìnś until wê reachèd a port. Wê theŕè tōōk ship and prôçeedėd tó^tö thé îslánd of^uv Roha. At that plâçè Î ėxchânĝèd sőmè of^uv mŷ dîàmóndś for őther merchándîśè, and wê went on tó^tö Balsora. Fróm Balsora Î reachèd mŷ nâtivè çitý, Bagdad, in which Î livèd eaśílý upon thé vast richėś Î had wőn.

THÉ THIRD VOYÁĜÈ

Î söön rėśolvèd upon a third voyáĝè, and őnçè^wőnçè morè tōōk ship at Balsora. After wê had bėèn-been at sea a few weeks, wê werè ôvertâkén bŷ a dreàdful storm, and werè óblîĝèd tó^tö cast añchòŕ nėàŕ an îslánd which thé captáìn had ėndeàvòŕèd tó^tö ávoid; for hê áŝŝūrèd us that it wáś^woś inhabítéd bŷ pigmý saváĝėś, cőverèd with hãir, whö wōūld speedílý áttack us in grèât numberś. Söön an innümeráblè multítüdè of^uv frightful saváĝėś, ábout twö feet high, bøàrdėd thé ship. Rėśistánçè wáś^woś ûsèléss. They tōōk down õυŕ sailś, cut õυŕ câblè, tôwèd thé ship tó^tö land, and mâdè us åll gô on shorè. Wê went tówårdś thé intėrïòŕ of^uv thé îslánd and discőverèd a larĝè bùilding. It wáś^woś a loftý paláçè, having a gâtè of^uv ebóný, which wê pūshèd ôpén, and söön discőverèd a rööm in which werè hûmán bônèś and roasting spits. Preśéntlý theŕè áppėàŕèd a hidêòús black man, whö wáś^woś aś tåll aś a pālm tree. Hê had but one^wőnè èŷè, hiś teeth werè long and sharp, and hiś nailś lîkè thé talónś of^uv a bird. Hê tōōk mê up aś Î wōūld a kittén, but fînding Î wáś^woś littlè better than skin and bônè, pūt mê down with cóntempt. Thé captáìn, bêing thé fattŝèst of^uv thé partý, wáś^woś sacrífîçèd tó^tö hiś appétîtè. When thé monster had finishèd hiś meal hê stretchèd himself upon a grèât stônè bench in thé portícô, and fell ásleep, snoring louder than thunder. In this manner hê slept till morning. In thé morning hê went out. Î sãìd tó^tö mŷ cómpanĩónś:

"Dö not wâstè tîmè in ûsèléss sorrôw; let us hurrý tó^tö lōōk for timber tó^tö mâkè rafts."

Wê found sőmè timber on thé seashorè, and lâbòŕèd hard; but having nô töölś, it wáś^woś êvèning bėforè wê had finishèd; and whîlè wê werè on thé point of^uv pūshing thé raft off thé beach, õυŕ hidêòús tẏránt rėturnèd and drôvè us tó^tö hiś paláçè, aś if wê had bėèn-been a flock of^uv sheep. Wê saw ánőther of^uv õυŕ cómpanĩónś sacrífîçèd, and thé ĝîánt lay down tó^tö sleep aś bėforè. Õυŕ despèrátè cóndition gâvè us còuráĝè; nînè of^uv us got up verý softlý, and held thé points of^uv thé roasting spits in thé fîŕè until wê mâdè them red-hot; wê then thrust them at őnçè^wőnçè intö thé monster's èŷè. Hê utterèd a frightful scream, and having trîèd in vain tó^tö fînd us, ôpénèd thé ebóný gâtè and left thé paláçè. Wê did not stay long bėhînd him, but ran tó^tö thé seashorè, got õυŕ rafts reàdý, and waitėd for daylight tó^tö embark. But at dawn wê beheld õυŕ monstròús enémý, led bŷ twö ĝîánts of^uv êqυál sîzè, and follôwèd bŷ mãný őtherś. Wê jumpèd upon õυŕ rafts, and pūshèd them fróm thé shorè, thé tîdè helping us. Thé ĝîánts sêeing us lîkèlý tó^tö ėscâpè, torè grèât pìêçėś of^uv rock, and wâding in thé wåter up tó^tö their waists, hurlèd them at us with åll their might. They sañk evèrý one^wőnè of^uv thé rafts but that on which Î wáś^woś; thus åll mŷ cómpanĩónś, ėxcept twö, werè drownèd. Wê rôwèd aś fast aś wê cōūld, and got out of^uv thé reach of^uv thêśè monsterś. Wê werè at sea twö dayś, but at last found a pleàśánt îslánd. After eating sőmè früìt, wê lay down tó^tö sleep, but werè söön áwâkénèd bŷ thé hissing of^uv an ėnormòús serpént. One^wőnè of^uv mŷ comradèś wáś^woś instántlý dėvõúrèd bŷ this terrific creaťurè. Î clîmbèd up a tree aś fast aś Î cōūld, and reachèd thé topmôst branchėś; mŷ rėmaining cómpanĩón wáś^woś follôwing mê, but thé dreàdful reptîlè entwînèd itself round thé tree and caught him. Thé serpént then went down and glîdėd áway. Î waitėd until lâtè thé next day bėforè Î ventûŕèd tó^tö dėscend. Êvèning ágãìn ápproachèd, and Î gatherèd tógether a grèât qυantitý of^uv småll wōōd, bramblèś, and thornś. Having mâdè them intö fagóts, Î formèd a çirclè round thé tree, and fasténèd thé uppermôst tó^tö thé branchėś of^uv thé tree. Î then clîmbèd up tó^tö thé highést branchėś. At night thé serpént câmè ágãìn, but cōūld not reach thé tree; and crawling vainlý round and round mŷ littlè fortífícâtion until daylight, hê went áway.

Thé next day Î spîèd a ship in fūll sail a long way off. With thé linén of^uv mŷ turbán Î mâdè a signál, which wáś^woś perçêìvèd. Î wáś^woś tâkén on bøàrd thé ship and theŕè tôld mŷ advenťurèś. Thé captáìn wáś^woś verý kînd tó^tö mê. Hê sãìd that hê had sőmè bâlèś of^uv gōōdś which had bėlongèd tó^tö a merchánt whö had unintentionállý left him sőmè tîmè ágô on an uninhabítėd îslánd. Aś this man wáś^woś undoubtėdlý deàd, hê intendėd tó^tö sell thé gōōdś for thé benéfit of^uv hiś relátivèś, and Î shōūld havè thé profit of^uv selling them. Î now recóllectėd this wáś^woś thé captáìn with whöm Î sailèd on mŷ secónd voyáĝè. Î söön cónvinçèd him that Î wáś^woś rêallý Sindbad, whöm hê suppôśèd tó^tö havè bėèn-been lost. Hê wáś^woś dėlightėd at thé discővèrý, and eagerlý acknowlėdĝèd that thé propertý wáś^woś mînè. Î cóntinûèd mŷ voyáĝè, sôld mŷ gōōdś tó^tö grèât advantáĝè, and rėturnèd tó^tö Bagdad.

MŶ FØÙRTH VOYÁĜÈ

Mŷ dėśîrè of^uv sêeing foréìgn còuntrìêś renderèd mŷ pleàŝurèś at hômè unsatisfactórý. Î theŕèforè árrânĝèd mŷ áffãirś, cómmençèd a voyáĝè tó^tö Perŝiá, and having bøùght a larĝè stock of^uv gōōdś loadėd a ship and ágãìn embarkèd. Thé ship struck upon a rock, and thé cargô wáś^woś lost. A few őtherś and mŷself werè bornè bŷ thé currént tó^tö an îslánd, on which wê werè súrroundėd bŷ black saváĝėś, and carrìêd tó^tö their huts. Thé saváĝėś offerèd us herbś; mŷ cómpanĩónś eagerlý tōōk them, for they werè huñgrý. Grìêf wōūld not állow mê tó^tö eat; and preśéntlý Î saw that thé herbś had mâdè mŷ comradèś sensèléss. Rîçè, mixèd with oil of^uv côcoanuts, wáś^woś then offerèd tó^tö us, which mŷ cómpanĩónś âtè greedílý and grew fat. Mŷ unhappý frìendś werè then dėvõúrèd one^wőnè after ánőther, having bėcőmè appėtîzing tó^tö thé canníbálś. But Î lañgυishèd sô much that they did not thiñk mê fit tó^tö eat. They left mê tó^tö thé cãŕè of^uv an ôld man, fróm whöm Î manáĝèd tó^tö ėscâpè; and tâking cãŕè tó^tö gô a contrãrý way fróm that which thé saváĝėś had tâkén Î never stoppèd till night. At thé end of^uv sevén dayś, on thé seashorè Î found a number of^uv whîtè persónś gathéring pepper. They askèd mê in Arabic whö Î wáś^woś, and whençè Î câmè; and Î gâvè them an áccount of^uv thé shipwreck, and of^uv mŷ ėscâpè. They treatėd mê kîndlý and prêśentéd mê tó^tö their King, whö treatėd mê with grèât libéralítý. Dûring mŷ stay with them, Î óbśervèd that when thé King and hiś nôblèś went hunting, they rôdè their horsėś without brîdlè or saddlè. With thé ássistánçè of^uv sőmè wòŕkmen Î mâdè a brîdlè and saddlè, and having pūt them upon one^wőnè of^uv thé King's horsėś, prêśentéd thé anímál, thus ėqυippèd, tó^tö Hiś Majéstý. Hê wáś^woś sô dėlightėd that hê instántlý mountėd and rôdè ábout thé groundś ålmôst thé whôlè day. Åll thé ministerś of^uv stâtè and thé nôbilítý indüçèd mê tó^tö mâkè saddlèś and brîdlèś for them, for which they mâdè mê such magnifíçént preśénts that Î söön bėcâmè verý rich. Thé King at last rėqυestėd that Î wōūld marrý, and bėcőmè one^wőnè of^uv hiś nâtion. Fróm a várîétý of^uv çircumstançéś Î cōūld not réfûśè, and hê theŕèforè gâvè mê one^wőnè of^uv thé lâdìêś of^uv hiś Cøùrt, whö wáś^woś yòung, rich, bèàûtíful, and virťüòús. Wê livèd in thé grèâtést harmóný in a paláçè bėlonging tó^tö mŷ wîfè. Î had mâdè a gōōd frìend of^uv a verý wòŕthý man whö livèd in this plâçè. Hėáring one^wőnè day that hiś wîfè had just dîèd, Î went tó^tö condôlè with him on this unėxpectėd cálamítý. Wê werè álônè tógether, and hê áppėàŕèd tó^tö bê in thé deepést grìêf. After Î had tålkèd with him sőmè tîmè on thé ûsèléssness of^uv sô much sorrôw, hê tôld mê that it wáś^woś an ėstablishèd law that thé living huśbánd shōūld bê burièd^berid with thé dėçeasèd wîfè, and that within an hõυŕ hê must submit. Î shudderèd at thé dreàdful custóm. In a short tîmè thé wōmán wáś^woś áttîrèd in her môst costlý dress and jëwélś, and plâçèd in an ôpén coffin. Thé próçeŝŝìòn then bėgan, thé huśbánd follôwing thé corpsè. They áscendéd tó^tö thé top of^uv an ėxceedinglý high mountáìn, and a grèât stônè wáś^woś rėmövèd, which cőverèd thé mouth of^uv a deep pit. Thé corpsè wáś^woś let down, and thé huśbánd, having tâkén leavè of^uv hiś frìendś, wáś^woś pūt intö ánőther ôpén coffin, with a pot of^uv wåter and sevén småll loavèś, and hê wáś^woś let down. Thé stônè wáś^woś rėplâçèd and they åll rėturnèd. Thé horròŕ of^uv this wáś^woś still fresh upon mŷ mînd, when mŷ wîfè fell sick and dîèd. Thé King and thé whôlè Cøùrt, out of^uv rėspect tó^tö mê, instántlý prêpãŕèd tó^tö ássist at a simílàŕ çerémôný with mê. Î rėstrainèd thé feeling of^uv dėspãir until wê árrîvèd at thé top of^uv thé mountáìn, when Î fell at thé feet of^uv thé King and beggèd him tó^tö spãŕè mŷ lîfè. Åll Î sãìd wáś^woś inéffecťüál, and after mŷ wîfè wáś^woś let down, Î ålsô wáś^woś pūt intö thé deep pit, everyone^{evèrýwőnè} bêing tôtállý indiffèrént tó^tö mŷ crîèś and lámentâtionś. Î mâdè thé câvè echô with mŷ vain cómplaints. Î livèd sőmè dayś on thé breàd and wåter which had bėèn-been pūt intö mŷ coffin, but this supplŷ wáś^woś at length ėxhaustėd. Î then wānderèd^wonderèd tó^tö a rėmôtè part of^uv this frightful câvè and lay down tó^tö prêpãŕè for deàth. Î wáś^woś thus wishing ônlý for a speedý termínâtion of^uv mŷ miśérý, when Î hèàŕd sőmèthing wålking and panting. Î startėd up, upon which thé thing pantėd still morè, and then ran áway. Î pursüèd it, and sőmètîmèś it seemèd tó^tö stop, but on mŷ ápproach cóntinûèd tó^tö gô on bėforè mê. Î pursüèd it, until at last Î saw a glimméring light lîkè a star. This rêdóùblèd mŷ eagernéss, until at last Î discőverèd a hôlè larĝè enough^ėnòuf tó^tö állow mŷ ėscâpè. Î crept thröügh thé apertûŕè, and found mŷself on thé seashorè, and discőverèd that thé creaťurè wáś^woś a sea monster which had bėèn-been áccustómèd tó^tö enter at that hôlè tó^tö feed upon thé deàd bodìêś. Having eatén sőmè shellfish, Î rėturnèd tó^tö thé câvè, wheŕè Î cóllectéd åll thé jëwélś Î cōūld fînd in thé dark. Thêśè Î carrìêd tó^tö thé seashorè, and tîèd them up verý neatlý intö bâlèś with thé cordś that let down thé coffinś. Î laid them on thé beach, waiting till sőmè ship shōūld pass. In twö dayś a ship câmè out of^uv thé harbòŕ, and passèd bŷ that part of^uv thé coast. Î mâdè a signál, and a boat tōōk mê on bøàrd. Î wáś^woś óblîĝèd tó^tö say that Î had bėèn-been wreckèd; for, had they knôwn mŷ real storý, Î shōūld havè bėèn-been carrìêd back, aś thé captáìn wáś^woś a nâtivè of^uv this còuntrý. Wê tòuchèd at sevèrál îslándś, and at thé port of^uv Kela, wheŕè Î found a ship reàdý tó^tö sail for Balsora; and having prêśentéd sőmè jëwélś tó^tö thé captáìn whö had brøùght mê tó^tö Kela, Î sailèd, and at last árrîvèd at Bagdad.

THÉ FIFTH VOYÁĜÈ

Having fòŕgottén mŷ former perílś, Î bùilt a ship at mŷ ôwn ėxpensè, loadėd it with a rich cargô, and, tâking with mê őther merchánts, őnçè^wőnçè morè set sail. Wê werè much drivén ábout bŷ a storm, and at length landėd upon a deśert îslánd tó^tö sèàŕch for fresh wåter. Theŕè wê found a roc's egg, êqυál in sîzè tó^tö thé one^wőnè Î had seen bėforè. Thé merchánts and sailòŕś gatherèd round it, and thôùgh Î ádvîśèd them not tó^tö meddlè with it, they neverthéless mâdè a hôlè in it with their hatchéts, and pickèd out thé yòung roc, pìêçè after pìêçè, and roastėd it. They had scãŕçèlý finishèd when twö of^uv thé ôld birdś áppėàŕèd in thé ãir. Wê húrrìêd on bøàrd ship and set sail, but had not gonè far bėforè wê saw thé immensè birdś ápproaching us, and söön after they hóverèd ôver thé ship. One^wőnè of^uv them let fåll an ėnormòús fragmént of^uv stônè, which fell intö thé sea clôsè bėsîdè thé ship, but thé őther let fåll a pìêçè which split õυŕ ship. Î caught hôld of^uv a bit of^uv thé wreck, on which Î wáś^woś bornè bŷ thé wind and tîdè tó^tö an îslánd, thé shorè of^uv which wáś^woś verý steep. Î reachèd thé drŷ land, and found thé môst dėlićìòús früìts and excéllént wåter, which rėfreshèd mê. Farther in thé îslánd Î saw a feeblè ôld man sitting nėàŕ a rivûlet. When Î ėnqυîŕèd of^uv him how hê câmè theŕè, hê ônlý answerèd bŷ sîgnś for mê tó^tö carrý him ôver thé rivûlet, that hê might eat sőmè früìt. Î tōōk him on mŷ back, and crossèd thé brōōk, but insteàd of^uv getting down, hê claspèd hiś legś sô firmlý round mŷ throat that Î thøùght hê wōūld strañglè mê. Î söön faintėd with pain and fright. When Î récőverèd, thé ôld fellôw wáś^woś still sitting on mŷ neck, and hê qυicklý mâdè mê rîśè up and wålk under thé treeś, whîlè hê gatherèd thé früìt at hiś eaśè. This lastėd a long tîmè. One^wőnè day, whîlè carrýing him ábout, Î pickèd up a larĝè gøùrd cållèd a calabash, and, having clėàŕèd out thé insîdè, Î pressèd intö it thé jüìçè of^uv grâpès. Having fillèd it, Î left it for sevèrál dayś, and at length found that it bėcâmè excéllént wînè. Î drañk of^uv this, and for a whîlè fòŕgot mŷ sorrôwś, sô that Î bėgan tó^tö sing with chėerfulnéss. Thé ôld man mâdè mê givè him thé calabash, and lîking thé flâvòŕ of^uv thé wînè, hê drañk it off, söön bėcâmè intoxicâtėd, fell fróm mŷ shôùlderś, and, dîèd in cónvulŝìònś. Î hâsténèd tó^tö thé seasîdè, and preśéntlý found thé crew of^uv a ship. They tôld mê Î had fāllén intö thé handś of^uv thé Ôld Man of^uv thé Sea, and wáś^woś thé first persón that had ever ėscâpèd. Î sailèd with them, and thé captáìn, when wê landėd, tōōk mê tó^tö sőmè persónś whöśè ėmploymént wáś^woś tó^tö gather côcoanuts. Wê åll tōōk up stônèś and peltėd thé móñkêyś that werè at thé verý top of^uv thé côcoanut treeś, and thêśè anímálś in rėturn peltėd us with côcoanuts. When wê had óbtainèd aś mãný aś wê cōūld carrý, wê rėturnèd tó^tö thé town. Î söön óbtainèd a cónsideráblè sum bŷ thé côcoanuts Î thus gatherèd, and at length sailèd for mŷ nâtivè land.

THÉ SIXTH VOYÁĜÈ

At thé expírâtion of^uv ánőther yėàŕ, Î prêpãŕèd for a sixth voyáĝè. This prövèd verý long and unforťünátè, for thé pîlót lost hiś cøùrsè and knew not wheŕè tó^tö stėèr. At length hê tôld us wê must inevítáblý bê dashèd tó^tö pìêçėś ágãìnst a rock, which wê werè fast ápproaching. In a few môménts thé vessél wáś^woś a cómplêtè wreck. Wê sâvèd õυŕ lîvèś, õυŕ próviŝìónś, and õυŕ gōōdś.

Thé shorè on which wê werè cast wáś^woś at thé fōōt of^uv a mountáìn which it wáś^woś impossíblè tó^tö clîmb, sô that Î shortlý beheld mŷ cómpanĩónś dîè one^wőnè after ánőther. Theŕè wáś^woś a frightful cavern in thé rock, thröügh which flôwèd a river. Tó^tö this, in a fit of^uv despérâtion, Î rėśolvèd tó^tö trust mŷself. Î went tó^tö wòŕk and mâdè a long raft. Î loadėd it with bâlèś of^uv rich stuffs, and larĝè pìêçėś of^uv rock crẏstál, of^uv which thé mountáìn wáś^woś in a grèât meàŝurè formèd. Î went on bøàrd thé raft, and thé currént carrìêd mê álong. Î wáś^woś carrìêd in darknéss dûring mãný dayś, and at last fell ásleep. When Î áwôkè, Î found mŷself in a pleàśánt còuntrý. Mŷ raft wáś^woś tîèd up and sőmè blacks, whö werè nėàŕ mê, sãìd that they had found mê floating in thé river which wåterś their land. They tōōk mê tó^tö their King, and cãŕèfullý cónductéd mŷ cargô with mê. When wê câmè tó^tö thé çitý of^uv Serindib, Î rėlâtėd mŷ storý tó^tö thé monarch, whö orderèd it tó^tö bê writtén in letterś of^uv gôld. Î prêśentéd thé King with sőmè of^uv thé môst bèàûtíful pìêçėś of^uv rock crẏstál, and entreatėd him tó^tö let mê rėturn tó^tö mŷ ôwn còuntrý, which hê reàdílý ágreed tó^tö, and êvén gâvè mê a letter and a preśént tó^tö mŷ sovèreígn, thé Calíph Haroun Alrashid. Thé preśént cónsistėd of^uv a rübý mâdè intö a cup, and decórâtėd with pèàŕlś; thé skin of^uv a serpént, which áppėàŕèd lîkè burnishèd gôld, and which cōūld rėpel diśeaśè; sőmè alôè-wōōd, camphire, and a bèàûtíful fêmâlè slâvè. Î rėturnèd tó^tö mŷ nâtivè còuntrý, dėliverèd thé preśént tó^tö thé Calíph, and rėçêìvèd hiś thañks, with a rėwård.

THÉ SEVÉNTH AND LAST VOYÁĜÈ

Thé Calíph Haroun Alrashid one^wőnè day sent for mê, and tôld mê Î must beár a preśént tó^tö thé King of^uv Serindib. Î ventûŕèd tó^tö prôtest on áccount of^uv mŷ âĝè, but Î cōūld not persυâdè him tó^tö givè up hiś plan. Î árrîvèd at Serindib, and prayèd an audïénçè with thé King. Î wáś^woś cónductéd tó^tö thé paláçè with grèât rėspect, and dėliverèd tó^tö thé monarch thé Calíph's letter and preśént. Thé preśént cónsistėd of^uv thé môst inĝênĩòús and valûàblè wòŕks of^uv art, with which thé King wáś^woś ėxceedinglý dėlightėd, and hê wáś^woś ålsô pleaśèd tó^tö ácknowlėdĝè how much hê ėsteemèd mŷ serviçėś. When Î dėpartėd, thé monarch bėstôwèd on mê sőmè rich gifts; but thé ship had not long bėèn-been at sea, bėforè it wáś^woś áttackèd bŷ pîrátès, whö sêìzèd thé vessél, and carrìêd us áway aś slâvèś. Î wáś^woś sôld tó^tö a merchánt. When mŷ master found that Î cōūld ûśè thé bôw and arrôw with skill, hê tōōk mê upon an eléphánt, and carrìêd mê tó^tö a vast forést in thé còuntrý. Mŷ master orderèd mê tó^tö clîmb a high tree, and wait theŕè until Î saw a trööp of^uv eléphánts pass bŷ. Î wáś^woś then tó^tö shööt at them, and if one^wőnè of^uv them fell, Î wáś^woś tó^tö gô tó^tö thé çitý and givè thé merchánt nôtiçè. Having givén mê thêśè dîrecţiònś, and a bag of^uv próviŝìónś, hê left mê. On thé morning of^uv thé secónd day, Î saw a grèât number of^uv eléphánts. Î sucçeedėd in shööting one^wőnè of^uv them, upon which thé őtherś went áway, and Î rėturnèd tó^tö thé çitý and tôld mŷ ėmployer, whö praiśèd mŷ wòŕk. Wê went back tó^tö thé forést and dug a hôlè, in which thé eléphánt wáś^woś tó^tö rėmain until it décayèd and left thé teeth free. Î cóntinûèd this trâdè nėàŕlý twö mőnths, and killèd an eléphánt ålmôst evèrý day. One^wőnè morning åll thé eléphánts câmè up tó^tö thé tree in which Î wáś^woś and trumpétėd dreàdfullý. One^wőnè of^uv them fasténèd hiś truñk round thé tree and torè it up bŷ thé rööts. Î fell with thé tree; thé anímál tōōk mê up with hiś truñk, and plâçèd mê on hiś back, and then, at thé heàd of^uv hiś trööp, hê brøùght mê tó^tö a plâçè wheŕè hê ĝentlý laid mê on thé ground, and they åll went áway. Î discőverèd that Î wáś^woś upon a larĝè brøàd hill, cőverèd åll ôver with thé bônèś and teeth of^uv eléphánts, and wáś^woś söön cónvinçèd that this wáś^woś their burýing-plâçè. Î reachèd thé çitý őnçè^wőnçè morè; mŷ master thøùght Î wáś^woś lost, for hê had seen thé torn tree, and found mŷ bôw and arrôwś. Î tôld him whåt had happénèd, and led him tó^tö thé hill. Wê loadėd thé eléphánt on which wê had cőmè, and thus cóllectéd morè teeth than a man cōūld havè óbtainèd in hiś whôlè lîfè. Thé merchánt tôld mê that not ônlý hê himself, but thé whôlè çitý, wáś^woś indebtėd tó^tö mê, and that Î shōūld rėturn tó^tö mŷ ôwn còuntrý with suffićiént weàlth tó^tö mâkè mê happý. Mŷ pâtrón loadėd a ship with îvòrý, and thé őther merchánts mâdè mê valûàblè preśénts. Î reachèd Balsora and landėd mŷ îvòrý, which Î found tó^tö bê morè valûàblè than Î had ėxpectėd. Î set out with carávanś tó^tö travél ôverland, and at last reachèd Bagdad, wheŕè Î prêśentéd mŷself tó^tö thé Calíph, and gâvè an áccount of^uv mŷ embássý. Hê wáś^woś sô ástonishèd at mŷ ádvenťurè with thé eléphánts that hê orderèd thé narrátivè of^uv it tó^tö bê writtén in letterś of^uv gôld and tó^tö bê dépośitėd in hiś treàŝúrý.