For heaven’s sake, cried Dinarzade, next morning, if you be not
asleep, sister, go on with the story of the third calender. My dear
sister, said Scheherazade, the prince renewed his discourse thus:--
At the sight of these steps, said he, for there was not a bit of
ground, either on the right or left, whereon a man could set his
foot, I gave thanks to God, and recommended myself to his holy
protection, as I began to mount the steps, which were so narrow,
rugged, and hard to get up, that had the wind blown ever so little,
it would have thrown me down into the sea. But at last I got up to
the top, without any accident. I came into the dome, and, kneeling
on the ground, gave God thanks for his mercies to me.
I passed the night under the dome; and in my sleep, an old grave man
appeared to me, and said, Hearken, Agib: as soon as thou art awake,
dig up the ground under thy feet; thou shalt find a bow of brass,
and three arrows of lead, that are made under certain
constellations, to deliver mankind from the many calamities that
threaten them. Shoot the three arrows at the statue, and the rider
shall fall into the sea, but the horse will fall down by thy side,
which thou must bury in the same place from whence thou tookest the
bow and arrows. This being done, the sea will swell and rise up to
the foot of the dome that stands upon the top of the mountain: when
it comes up so high, thou shalt see a boat with one man holding an
oar in each hand; --this man is also of metal, but different from
that thou hast thrown down; step on board to him, without mentioning
the name of God, and let him conduct thee. He will in ten days’
time bring thee into another sea, where thou shalt find an
opportunity to get home to thy country safe and sound, provided, as
I have told thee, thou dost not mention the name of God during the
whole voyage.
This was the substance of the old man’s discourse. When I awoke, I
was very much comforted by the vision, and did not fail to observe
every thing that he had commanded me. I took the bow and arrows out
of the ground, shot at the horseman, and, with the third arrow, I
overthrew him: he fell into the sea, and the horse fell by my side,
which I buried in the place whence I took the bow and arrows. In the
mean time, the sea swelled, and rose up by degrees; when it came as
high as the foot of the dome that stood upon the top of the
mountain, I saw afar off a boat rowing towards me, and I returned
God thanks that every thing succeeded according to my dream.
At last the boat made land, and I saw the man was made of metal, as
I had dreamt. I stepped aboard, and took great heed not to pronounce
the name of God, neither spoke I one word. I sat down, and the man
of metal began to row off from the mountain. He rowed without
ceasing till the ninth day, when I saw some islands, which gave me
hopes that I should escape all the danger that I feared. The excess
of my joy made me forget what I was forbidden to do: Blessed be God!
said I; God be praised!
I had no sooner spoken these words, but the boat sunk with the man
of metal; and, leaving me upon the surface, I swam the remaining
part of the day towards that land which appeared nearest to me. A
very dark night succeeded; and not knowing where I was, I swam at a
venture. My strength at last began to fail, and I despaired of being
able to save myself; when the wind began to blow hard, and a wave,
as big as a mountain, threw me on a flat, where it left me, and drew
back. I made haste to get ashore, fearing another wave might wash me
back again. The first thing I did was to strip, and wring the water
out of my clothes, and then laid them down on the dry sand, which
was still pretty warm by the heat of the day.
Next morning the sun dried my clothes early; I put them on, and went
forward to see where I was. I had not walked very far, till I found
I was got upon a little desert island, though very pleasant, where
there grew several sorts of trees and wild fruits; but I perceived
it was very far from the continent, which much diminished the joy I
conceived for having escaped the danger of the seas. I
notwithstanding recommended myself to God, and prayed him to dispose
of me according to his good will and pleasure. At the same time I
saw a vessel coming from the main land, before the wind, directly to
the island. I doubted not but they were coming to anchor there; and
being uncertain what sort of people they might be, whether friends
or foes, I thought it not safe for me to be seen. I got up into a
very thick tree, from whence I might safely view them. The vessel
came into a little creek, where ten slaves landed, carrying a spade
and other instruments fit for digging up the ground. They went
towards the middle of the island, where I saw them stop and dig the
ground a long while; after which I thought I saw them lift up a
trap-door. They returned again to the vessel, and unladed several
sorts of provisions and furniture, which they carried to that place
where they had broken ground, and so went downward; which made me
suppose it was a subterraneous dwelling.
I saw them once more go to the ship, and return soon after with an
old man, who led a very handsome young lad in his hand, of about
fourteen or fifteen years of age --They all went down at the
trap-door; and, being come up again, having let down the trap-door,
and covered it over with earth, they returned to the creek where the
ship lay: but I saw not the young man in their company. This made me
believe that he staid behind in that place under ground, at which I
could not but be extremely astonished.
The old man and the slaves went aboard again, and the vessel being
got under sail, steered its course towards the main land. When I
perceived they were at such distance that they could not see me, I
came down from the tree, and went directly to the place where I had
seen the ground broken. I removed the earth by degrees, till I found
a stone that was two or three feet square. I lifted it up, and saw
that it covered the head of the stairs, which were also of stone. I
went down, and came into a large room, where there was laid a
foot-carpet, and a couch covered with tapestry, and cushions covered
with rich stuff, upon which the young man sat, with a fan in his
hand. I saw all this by the light of two tapers, together with the
fruits and flower-pots he had standing about him. The young lad was
startled at the sight of me; but to rid him of his fear, I said to
him as I came in, Whoever you be, sir, do not fear any thing: a
king, and the son of a king, as I am, is not capable of doing you
any prejudice; on the contrary, it is probable that your good
destiny has brought me hither to deliver you out of this tomb, where
it seems they have buried you alive, for reasons unknown to me. But
that which makes me wonder, and what I cannot conceive, (for you
must know that I have been witness to all that hath passed since
your coming into this island), is, that you suffered yourself to be
buried in this place without any resistance.
Scheherazade broke off here, and the sultan arose, very impatient to
know why this young lad was thus abandoned in a desert island, as to
which he promised himself satisfaction next night.