ing to death the dwarfs, from which they
could gain no advantage. She returned into the valley murmuring, and
finding that her son was not risen from the arms of Nouronihar,
discharged her ill-humour upon both. The idea, however, of departing
next day for Istakar, and cultivating, through the good offices of the
Giaour, an intimacy with Eblis himself, at length consoled her chagrin.
But Fate had ordained it otherwise.

In the evening, as Carathis was conversing with Dilara, who, through her
contrivance, had become of the party, and whose taste resembled her own,
Bababalouk came to acquaint her "that the sky towards Samarah looked of a
fiery red, and seemed to portend some alarming disaster." Immediately,
recurring to her astrolabes and instruments of magic, she took the
altitude of the planets, and discovered by her calculations, to her great
mortification, that a formidable revolt had taken place at Samarah; that
Motavakel, availing himself of the disgust which was inveterate against
his brother, had incited commotions amongst the populace, made himself
master of the palace, and actually invested the great tower, to which
Morakanabad had retired, with a handful of the few that still remained
faithful to Vathek.

"What!" exclaimed she; "must I lose then my tower! my mutes! my
negresses! my mummies! and, worse than all, the laboratory in which I
have spent so many a night, without knowing at least if my hair-brained
son will complete his adventure? No! I will not be the dupe!
Immediately will I speed to support Morakanabad; by my formidable art the
clouds shall sleet hailstones in the faces of the assailants, and shafts
of red-hot iron on their heads; I will spring mines of serpents and
torpedos from beneath them, and we shall soon see the stand they will
make against such an explosion!"

Having thus spoken, Carathis hastened to her son, who was tranquilly
banqueting with Nouronihar in his superb carnation-coloured tent.

"Glutton that thou art!" cried she, "were it not for me, thou wouldst
soon find thyself the commander only of pies. Thy faithful subjects have
abjured the faith they swore to thee; Motavakel, thy brother, now reigns
on the hill of pied horses, and had I not some slight resources in the
tower, would not be easily persuaded to abdicate; but, that time may not
be lost, I shall only add four words: Strike tent to-night, set forward,
and beware how thou loiterest again by the way; though thou hast