s of Soliman.
The shrieks, however, of his wives awoke him with a start, and, instead
of the Giaour with his key of gold, he beheld Bababalouk full of
consternation.

"Sire," exclaimed this good servant of the most potent of monarchs,
"misfortune is arrived at its height; wild beasts, who entertain no more
reverence for your sacred person than for that of a dead ass, have beset
your camels and their drivers; thirty of the richest laden are already
become their prey, as well as your confectioners, your cooks, and
purveyors; and, unless our holy Prophet should protect us, we shall have
all eaten our last meal."

At the mention of eating the Caliph lost all patience; he began to
bellow, and even beat himself (for there was no seeing in the dark). The
rumour every instant increased, and Bababalouk, finding no good could be
done with his master, stopped both his ears against the hurly-burly of
the harem, and called out aloud: "Come, ladies and brothers! all hands to
work! strike light in a moment! never shall it be said that the Commander
of the Faithful served to regale these infidel brutes."

Though there wanted not in this bevy of beauties a sufficient number of
capricious and wayward, yet on the present occasion they were all
compliance; fires were visible in a twinkling in all their cages; ten
thousand torches were lighted at once; the Caliph himself seized a large
one of wax; every person followed his example, and, by kindling ropes'
ends dipped in oil and fastened on poles, an amazing blaze was spread.
The rocks were covered with the splendour of sunshine; the trails of
sparks wafted by the wind communicated to the dry fern, of which there
was plenty. Serpents were observed to crawl forth from their retreats
with amazement and hissings, whilst the horses snorted, stamped the
ground, tossed their noses in the air, and plunged about without mercy.

One of the forests of cedar that bordered their way took fire, and the
branches that overhung the path, extending their flames to the muslins
and chintzes which covered the cages of the ladies, obliged them to jump
out, at the peril of their necks. Vathek, who vented on the occasion a
thousand blasphemies, was himself compelled to touch with his sacred feet
the naked earth.

Never had such an incident happened before. Full of mortification,
shame, and despondence, and not knowing how to walk, the ladies fell into
the dirt. "Must I go on foot?" said one; "Must I wet