dence would not afflict him in such a
manner for nought, but that there must be some design in it, he came
to the determination that he would instantly return home, and fulfil
the law and custom of his country by fighting the lion.

Early on the morrow, the Emir came to wake his guest, and bid him
"Good morning." He found the young man in tears, and putting his arm
round him, thus spoke:

"My son," said he, "your behaviour last night, when about to retire,
surprised me greatly, and my amazement is increased now at seeing you
in this unhappy state. What ails you, my son? Tell me all, and hide
nothing from me; and first let me know frankly who you are?"

"I am one," replied the youth, "who has fled from duty. I am Azgid,
son of the renowned King Almamoun. I fled from a work Providence
assigned to me to perform--but my sin followed me. I searched far and
wide for comfort, but in vain--trouble and disaster pursued me
wherever I went. But I have repented, and am now going back to
retrieve my error, and meet the trial from which I once endeavoured to
escape."

"I am rejoiced to hear you thus speak," said the Emir. "I was well
acquainted with your father, and think I know now from what duty it
was you tried to escape. Go back, then, to your home, my son, and may
Heaven grant you strength to perform your excellent resolution."

He then ordered his guest's horse to be brought, which when the youth
hath mounted, he asked his host to remember him to the beautiful
Perizide, and beg her to excuse him for leaving her in so strange and
abrupt a manner.

"I will do as you desire," replied the other, "and when my daughter
learns the cause of your departure, she will think more of you than
ever."

Thus with mutual good wishes the two friends separated, and Azgid rode
away. He pursued the same route he had travelled before, and on the
second day reached the desert and the encampment of the Arabs. He
found the Sheik Hajaar, sitting in his tent door, calmly smoking his
pipe: the Sheik was surprised at seeing him, and begged him to
dismount and refresh himself; but this the Prince refused to do,
saying that he had only come to explain his past strange behaviour in
leaving his hospitable abode so abruptly.

"I am Azgid," continued he, "son of the renowned King Almamoun. I was
sorely troubled in mind when I visited you, for I had fled from duty;
but I am now going back to retrieve my error and begin a new life. But
tell me, I pray,