llecting in his mind the favours he had shown them, and accusing
them of the highest ingratitude, the same unfaithful genie who had so
often appeared to him presented himself before him, and said to him,

"Your slaves have quitted you only that they might worship another
God, in whom they place all their trust."

This discourse so heightened the anger of Dakianos that he conjured
the genie to let him know the place of their retreat.

"I alone can bring you to it," returned the genie. "All mankind would
search for it in vain, but I will conduct you to it at the head of
your army."

They immediately departed, and were not long before they arrived at
the mouth of the cavern. The genie then said to Dakianos,

"It is here they are retired."

Dakianos, who was wholly possessed with the spirit of revenge,
immediately would have entered it; but that moment there burst out
from the cave a dreadful vapour, which was followed by a furious wind,
and a darkness that spread over all that part of the world. The army
gave back with horror; but anger redoubling the courage of Dakianos,
he advanced to the entrance of the cavern, but it was with incredible
difficulty, and, in spite of all his efforts, it was absolutely
impossible for him to enter it, the air being so impenetrable. He
perceived Catnier, who slept with his head resting upon his paw, and
distinguished plainly the six young Greeks and the shepherd, who were
all in a profound sleep, though he was far from suspecting it, as
their eyes were open. Dakianos was not rash enough to renew his
efforts--a secret horror restrained him. The sight of this cavern and
all the prodigies of Heaven spread so great a terror in his mind that
he returned to his army, and said that he had discovered his slaves,
who had prostrated themselves before him without having the courage to
speak to him, and that he had left them prisoners in the cavern till
he fixed his resolution respecting their punishment. In effect, he
consulted his sixty viziers, and demanded of them what remarkable
vengeance he could exercise upon these young slaves; but no advice of
theirs could give him satisfaction. He had recourse, therefore, to his
genie, who advised him to command the architects, who always marched
along with him, to raise a very thick wall, which should entirely
close up the entrance of the cavern, and take away all hope of succour
from those who were enclosed in it.

"You must take care for your own g