. My
father was greatly afflicted at this announcement; and when he had
reared me until I had nearly attained the age of fifteen years, the
astrologers came again, and informed him that the horseman had fallen
into the sea, and that it had been thrown down by King Agib, the son of
King Khasib; on hearing which, he prepared for me this dwelling, and
here left me to remain until the completion of the term, of which there
now remain ten days. All this he did from fear lest King Agib should
kill me."

[Illustration]

_And when the boat came to me I found in it a man of brass, with a
tablet of lead upon his breast, engraven with names and talismans._

When I heard this, I was filled with wonder, and said within myself: "I
am King Agib, the son of King Khasib, and it was I who threw down the
horseman; but, by Allah, I will neither kill him nor do him any injury."
Then said I to the youth: "Far from thee be both destruction and harm,
if it be the will of God: thou hast nothing to fear: I will remain with
thee to serve thee, and will go forth with thee to thy father, and beg
of him to send me back to my country, for the which he will obtain a
reward." The youth rejoiced at my words, and I sat and conversed with
him until night, when I spread his bed for him, and covered him, and
slept near to his side. And in the morning I brought him water, and he
washed his face, and said to me: "May God requite thee for me with every
blessing. If I escape from King Agib, I will make my father reward thee
with abundant favours." "Never," I replied, "may the day arrive that
would bring thee misfortune!" I then placed before him some
refreshments, and after we had eaten together, we passed the day
conversing with the utmost cheerfulness.

I continued to serve him for nine days; and on the tenth day the youth
rejoiced at finding himself in safety, and said to me: "O my brother, I
wish that thou wouldst in thy kindness warm for me some water, that I
may wash myself and change my clothes; for I have smelt the odour of
escape from death, in consequence of thy assistance." "With pleasure," I
replied; and I arose, and warmed the water; after which, he entered a
place concealed from my view, and, having washed himself and changed his
clothes, laid himself upon the mattress to rest after his bath. He then
said to me: "Cut up for me, O my brother, a water-melon, and mix its
juice with some sugar:" so I arose, and, taking a melon, brought it upon
a