. The animal, struck by a
deadly arrow, came to lie down and die on the brink of the well.

A hunter, outstripping the King's retinue, came first to seize the
prey. As he approached it, he heard a plaintive voice from the bottom
of the well. Having listened to ascertain whether it was so, he ran to
report this to the King, who was speedily advancing with his train,
and ordered some of them to descend into the well. Shaseliman and the
slave were immediately drawn out of it. The cords which tied them were
cut, cordials recalled them to life; and no sooner had they opened
their eyes than the King recognized in one of them his own officer.

"Are not you," said he to him, "the confidant of Chamsada?"

"Yes, sire, I am."

"Well, what has brought you into this situation?"

"I was returning," said the slave, "loaded with the treasure the Queen
had ordered me to search for in Persia; I was attacked by robbers,
plundered, and thrown alive into this sepulchre."

"And who is this young man?"

"He is son to the nurse of your Majesty's august spouse. I was
bringing him to your Court, with the view of procuring him a place."

After these two unfortunate men had received proper food, the King
returned to his palace. He flew instantly to Chamsada, to give her an
account of what he had seen, of the return of her slave with a young
man, and of the loss of her treasure. When the Queen learned that they
had been thrown into a well, grief took possession of her soul. She
tried to hide her disorder, which was, however, betrayed by the
visible alteration of her countenance under the mask of apparent
tranquillity. The King, who was looking at her, and perceived the
efforts she employed to restrain herself, wished to penetrate into the
cause of her trouble.

"What is the matter with you, Chamsada?" said he. "Are you afflicted
at the loss of your treasure? Is not mine at your disposal?"

"I swear by your life, O glorious Sultan," replied she, "that I am
less sorry for the loss of my treasures, than for the sufferings of
the poor slave, of which I have been the cause. I have a feeling
heart, and you know how much I am affected by the misfortunes of
others."

However, as the King continued to relate the adventure of the well,
and as she learned that the slave and the young man had been drawn up
from it, she recovered her tranquillity, and at the end of her
husband's relation her feelings were entirely calm.

"Be comforted, my dear Ch