in the air. I remained till night
beneath the stone.

It was my intention, as soon as it was dark, to creep out of the city
into the woods; but sleep overtook me at the time when animals retire
to their rest, and when I awoke in the morning I found myself in this
forest, where I remained during the space of a moon alone, till I met
with these two miserable companions of my solitude.

* * * * *

"Your adventures, O Mahoud," said the Sultan of India, "are wonderful,
and an excellent lesson of caution and prudence to us who are joined
in one common fate; and since I perceive both your misfortunes and my
own have been brought about by our want of trust and prudence, I
shall, with the utmost resignation, acknowledge that the all-perfect
Allah is ever willing to assist those who are not wanting to
themselves.

"But, O Mahoud, suffer me, ere I declare my own grief, to ask what has
become of the lovely Hemjunah, the Princess of Cassimir? and wonder
not at my solicitude, for the mention of her name brings to my memory
ideas of the past. How was it possible that lovely being should be
betrayed into the powers of those wicked enchanters? But why should I
be surprised at her weakness, who am myself the object of their
malice? Surely," continued the Sultan, "this our companion, whom you
called Princess, cannot be the daughter of Zebenezer, the Sultan of
Cassimir?"

"You are right, indeed, in your conjectures," answered Mahoud; "the
Princess of Cassimir is a fellow-sufferer with us, and he who is on my
right hand is Horam, the favourite of Misnar, the Lord of Delhi."

"What!" said Misnar, transported, and yet at the same time recoiling
with surprise, "is my faithful Horam also the unfortunate partner of
my griefs?"

Misnar then, turning to the Princess of Cassimir, said, "O Princess,
whom a severe enchantment has deprived of the most exquisite of
forms, to load thee with the most wretched, permit me to request an
account of your unfortunate labours since you left the Court of your
father Zebenezer; that at least I may indulge my wishes for your
recovery, though my arm is too weak to work either my own or your
deliverance."

"Most illustrious Sultan," answered the Princess, "I shall obey your
commands, although the remembrance of my misfortune is grievous, and
the confession of my indiscretion must fill me with shame."

"It is enough, O Princess," said the Sultan, "to confess our faults to