" continued she, holding my hand in hers; "if you do not, I shall
die."

I pressed her to my bosom, and vowed to love her till death; and we
hastened back to my chamber, that we might consult upon our
arrangements. I found an opportunity, in the course of the forenoon, to
acquaint all my companions of their danger, except one whom I could not
meet with.

In the evening we again sat down to the banquet, and soon after the
water had been produced, the one who had not been warned fell off his
chair in a state of intoxication. I made this an excuse for drinking no
more. Assuming an angry tone towards my companions, I apologised to the
king for their want of respect in his presence, and rose from the table
in spite of all his remonstrances. The next morning I stated to the
king that I wished to return to my ship for an hour or two, that I might
bring him a present of ivory, which I had been informed would be
acceptable. The princess offered to attend us, and the king, satisfied
with her surveillance, consented to our departure, on condition that we
would not fail to return in time for the banquet, which we most
faithfully promised. While the sledges were preparing, I requested the
princess to obtain several flasks of the golden water, that I might
present them as curiosities to all the learned societies in Europe.
This she accomplished, and stowing them in her own sledge with several
articles of wearing apparel, not only took them from the palace
unperceived, but they were carried on board without the knowledge of my
companions. I immediately cut my cables, and made all sail out of the
bay without any molestation, as the natives did not suspect my
intentions; I never felt more happy than when I found myself once more
floating on the wave, in company with my beautiful princess, whose
affectionate manners endeared me to her more and more every day.

Unfortunately, in our hurry to escape, we quite overlooked the
circumstance of our water-casks being nearly empty, and we were soon
reduced to half a pint per diem. To render our situation more
disastrous, the weather became intensely hot, and the people, in spite
of all my remonstrances, contrived every night to steal a part of the
water which was not yet expended, so that at last we found ourselves
becalmed, without a drop of water on board.

But all my apprehensions were now swallowed up by one of greater
interest. A fever seized my dear princess, who, accustomed to