was very secure, and he defended it with the edge of the sword. It was
his usual resort, from whence he sallied forth on plundering
expeditions, and rendered the roads unsafe. At length the news of him
reached King Saif Ar-Raad, who sent against him three thousand men, but
he routed and destroyed them all. Upon this, the King sent a larger
number against him, who experienced the same fate. He then despatched a
third army, upon which Sudun fortified himself afresh, and reared the
walls of his fortress so high that an eagle could scarcely pass them. We
will now return to Shama, who went to Wakhs El Fellat, and reproached
him with the conditions he had agreed to, and added, “It would be better
for you to leave this place, and take me with you, and we will put
ourselves under the protection of some powerful king.” “God forbid,”
replied he, “that I should take you with me in so dishonourable a
manner.” As he still positively refused to consent, she grew angry, and
left him. Wakhs El Fellat lay down to rest, but he could not sleep. So
he rose up, mounted his horse, and rode away at midnight; and in the
morning he met a horseman who stationed himself in his path, but who was
so completely armed that his face was concealed. When Wakhs El Fellat
saw him, he cried to him, “Who are you, and where are you going?” But
instead of replying, he pressed upon him, and aimed a blow which Wakhs
El Fellat successfully parried. A fight then commenced between them,
which lasted till nearly evening. At last the difference in their
strength became perceptible, and Wakhs El Fellet struck his adversary so
violent a blow with his javelin that his horse fell to the ground. He
then dismounted, and was about to slay him, when the horseman cried to
him, “Do not kill me, O brave warrior, or you will repent when
repentance will no more avail you.” “Tell me who you are?” returned
Wakhs El Fellat. “I am Shama, the daughter of King Afrakh,” replied the
horseman. “Why have you acted thus?” asked he. “I wished to try whether
you would be able to hold your own against Sudun’s people,” she replied.
“I have tried you now, and found you so valiant that I fear no longer on
your account. Take me with you, O hero.” “God forbid that I should do
so,” he returned; “what would Sikar Diun and the others say? They would
say that if Shama had not been with him, he would never have been able
to prevail against Sudun.” She then raised her eyes to heaven, and said,
“O God, permit him to fall into some danger from which I alone may
deliver him!” Upon this Wakhs El Fellat pursued his journey, without
giving any attention to her words. On the third day he arrived at the
valley where the fortress of Sudun was situated, when he began to work
his way along behind the trees; and towards evening he arrived at the
fortress itself, which he found to be surrounded with a moat; and the
gates were closed. He was still undecided what course to take, when he
heard the sound of an approaching caravan; and he hid himself in the
fosse of the fortress to watch it. He then saw that it was driven
forward by a large body of men, and that the merchants were bound on
their mules. When they arrived at the castle, they knocked at the gate;
and when the troop entered, Wakhs El Fellat entered with them; and they
unloaded the goods and bound the prisoners without noticing him. When
the armed men had finished their work, they ascended to the castle, but
he remained below. After a time, he wished to follow them, but when he
trod on the first step, it gave way under him, and a dagger flew out,
which struck him in the groin. Upon this his eyes filled with tears, and
he already looked upon his destruction as certain, when a form came
towards him from the entrance of the castle, to deliver him; and as it
drew nearer, he perceived that it was Shama. He was filled with
astonishment, and cried out, “God has heard your prayer! How did you
come here?” “I followed your traces,” she replied, “till you entered the
castle, when I imitated your example, and mingled with the troops. I
have now saved your life, although you have refused to take me with you;
but if you wish to advance further, do not neglect to try whether each
step is fixed, with the point of your sword.” He now again began to
ascend, feeling the way before him, and Shama followed, till they
arrived at the last stair, when they saw that the staircase ended in a
revolving wheel. “Spring higher,” advised Shama, “for I see a javelin
which magic art has placed here.” They sprang over it, and pursued their
way till they reached a large anteroom, lighted by a high cupola. They
stopped here awhile, and examined everything carefully. At last they
approached the door of a room, and on looking through the crevices, they
saw about a hundred armed negroes, among whom was a black slave who
looked as savage as a lion. The room was lighted by wax candles, placed
on gold and silver candlesticks. At this moment, the black said,
“Slaves, what have you done with the prisoners belonging to the
caravan?” “We have chained them up in the prison below, and left them in
the safest place,” was the reply. But he continued, “If one of them was
carelessly bound, he might be able to release himself and the others,
and to gain possession of the stairs. Let one of you therefore go down,
examine them carefully, and tighten their bonds.” One of them therefore
came out, and the two strangers hid themselves in the anteroom. When he
had passed them, Wakhs El Fellat stepped forward and pierced him through
with his sword; Shama dragged his body aside, and they both remained
quiet for a time. But as the slave remained away from his companions too
long, Sudun exclaimed, “Go and see why he does not return, for I have
been in great alarm ever since we entered the castle to-day.” A second
then rose and took his sword, and as he came into the anteroom, Wakhs El
Fellat clove him in twain at one blow and Shama dragged his body also on
one side. They again waited quietly for a time, when Sudun said, “It
seems as if hunters are watching our slaves, and are killing them one
after another.” A third then hastened out, and Wakhs El Fellat struck
him such a blow that he fell dead to the ground, and Shama dragged him
also away. But as he likewise remained absent so long, Sudun himself
stood up, and all the others with him, and he said, “Did I not warn and
caution you? There is a singing in my ears, and my heart trembles, for
there must be people here who are watching our men.” He himself now came
out, and the others followed him with lights and holding their hands on
their swords, when one of the foremost suddenly stopped. “Why do you not
advance!” cried the others. “How shall I go forward,” said he, “when he
who has slain our friends stands before us.” This answer was repeated to
Sudun when he called on them in a voice of thunder to advance. When he
heard this, he forced his way through them till he perceived Wakhs El
Fellat. “Who are you, Satan?” cried he, “and who brought you here?” “I
came here,” replied he, “to cut off your head, and destroy your memory.”
“Have you any blood-feud against me?” asked Sudun, “or any offence to
revenge upon me?” “I have no enmity against you in my heart,” said Wakhs
El Fellat, “and you have never injured me; but I have asked Shama in
marriage of her father, and he has demanded of me your head as a
condition. Be on your guard, that you may not say I acted foully towards
you.” “Madman,” cried Sudun, “I challenge you to a duel. Will you fight
inside or outside the fortress?” “I leave that to you,” returned Wakhs
El Fellat. “Well, then, await me here,” was the reply. Sudun then went
in, clothed himself in gilded armour, girt on a saw-like sword, and came
out holding a shining club in his hand. He was so enraged that he knew
not what to say, and at once attacked Wakhs El Fellat, who threw himself
on his adversary like a raging lion, and they fought together like
hungry wolves; but both despaired of victory. The swords spake a hard
language on the shields, and each of the combatants wished that he had
never been born. When this desperate fight had lasted a long time, Shama
was greatly troubled lest Sudun should prove victorious. So she seized a
dagger and struck at Sudun, wounding the nerves of his hand, so that he
dropped his sword, while she exclaimed to Wakhs El Fellat, “Make an end
of him.” “No,” replied Wakhs El Fellat, “I will make him my prisoner,
for he is a brave and valiant man.” “With whom are you speaking?” asked
Sudun. “With Shama,” answered he. “What,” said Sudun, “did she come with
you?” “Yes,” replied he. “Then let her come before me.” She came
forward, and Sudun said, “Is the world too narrow for your father that
he could demand nothing as your dowry but my head?” “This was his
desire,” answered she. Wakhs El Fellat then said, “Take your sword and
defend yourself, for I will not fight with you, now that it has fallen
out of your hand.” But Sudun replied, “I will not fight with you, for I
am wounded, so take my head, and go in peace with your bride.” He then
sat down and bowed his head. “If you speak truly,” said Wakhs El Fellat,
“separate yourself from your people.” “Why so?” “Because I fear lest
they may surround me, and compel me to fight with them, and there is no
need for me to shed their blood.” Sudun then left the castle, bowed his
head, and said, “Finish your work.” But Wakhs El Fellat said, “If you
speak truth, come with me across the fosse of the castle into the open
ground.” He did so, carefully barring the castle behind him, and said,
“Now take my head.”
When the slaves saw this, they mounted the walls, and wept and lamented.
But Shama cried out, “Take his head, and let us hasten our return before
morning dawns.” “What,” said Wakhs El Fellat, “should I kill so brave a
man in so treacherous a manner, when he is so noble and magnanimous?” He
then went up to Sudun, kissed his head, and said, “Rise up, O warrior of
the age, for you and your companions are safe from me.” They now all
embraced each other, and made an offensive and defensive compact. “Take
me with you alive, O brave man,” said Sudun, “and hand me over to the
King as his daughter’s dowry. If he consents, well; but if not, take my
head, and woo your wife.” “God forbid,” said Wakhs El Fellat, “that I
should act thus after your magnanimity. Rather return to the castle, and
assure your companions of your safety.” All this passed under the eyes
of the other armed men. They rejoiced at the knightly conduct of both,
and now came down, fell at the feet of Sudun and embraced him. They then
did the same to Wakhs El Fellat, whose hands they kissed and loaded him
with praises. After this, they all returned to the castle, and agreed to
set out presently. They took with them whatever treasures there were,
and Wakhs El Fellat commanded them to release the prisoners and restore
them their goods. They now all mounted their horses and journeyed to the
country of King Afrakh, greatly rejoiced at the mutual love of the
warriors. When they approached the town, Shama parted from them, that
nothing should be known of her absence in the company. During this time,
King Afrakh and Sikar Diun had amused themselves with hunting, jesting,
and sporting, and sent out scouts daily to look for Wakhs El Fellat.
“What can have become of him?” said the King once to Sikar Diun. “Sudun
has certainly killed him,” replied the latter, “and you will never see
him again.” While they were thus talking, they observed a great cloud of
dust, and as it drew nearer, they could see the armed men more
distinctly. The company was led by a black knight, by whose side rode a
younger white horseman. When the King saw this, he exclaimed, “Wakhs El
Fellat has returned, in company with Sudun and his host.” “Wait a
little,” replied Sikar Diun, “till we are certain of it.” But when they
drew nearer, and they could doubt no longer, Sikar Diun mounted his
horse and fled, accompanied by the King and his followers, till they
reached the town, and barred the gates. They then watched from the
walls, to see what would happen. When they saw that the strangers
dismounted and pitched tents, the King thought it was a good sign. He
therefore ordered the town to be decorated, and the gates to be opened,
and rode out, attended by a considerable escort, and approached the
tents. The other party now mounted their horses to go to meet them. When
they approached each other, King Afrakh was about to dismount, but Wakhs
El-Fellat would not allow it, and the King embraced him, and
congratulated him on his safety. He then saluted Sudun also, but the
latter did not return his salutation. He invited him to enter the town,
but he declined, as did Wakhs El Fellat likewise, who did not wish to
part from his companions. The King returned accompanied only by his own
people, and prepared the best reception for the new-comers. On the
following morning the King held a general council, at which Sikar Diun
appeared greatly depressed. “Did I not warn you beforehand,” said he to
the King, “what you now see for yourself of this evil-doer? Did we not
send him to bring the head of Sudun, and he returns with him safe and
sound, and on the best of terms, while our hearts are oppressed with
anxiety?” “You may be right,” replied the King, “but what are we to do
now?”