escended to the earth with the precious phial, St.
John showed him a plant of marvellous virtues, with which he told him
he had only to touch the eyes of the king of Abyssinia to restore him
to sight. "That important service," said the saint, "added to your
having delivered him from the Harpies, will induce him to give you an
army wherewith to attack the Africans in their rear, and force them to
return from France to defend their own country." The saint also
instructed him how to lead his troops in safety across the great
deserts, where caravans are often overwhelmed with moving columns of
sand. Astolpho, fortified with ample instructions, remounted the
Hippogriff, thanked the saint, received his blessing, and took his
flight down to the level country.

Keeping the course of the river Nile, he soon arrived at the capital of
Abyssinia, and rejoined Senapus. The joy of the king was great when he
heard again the voice of the hero who had delivered him from the
Harpies. Astolpho touched his eyes with the plant which he had brought
from the terrestrial paradise, and restored their sight. The king's
gratitude was unbounded. He begged him to name a reward, promising to
grant it, whatever it might be. Astolpho asked an army to go to the
assistance of Charlemagne, and the king not only granted him a hundred
thousand men, but offered to lead them himself.

The night before the day appointed for the departure of the troops
Astolpho mounted his winged horse, and directed his flight towards a
mountain, whence the fierce South-wind issues, whose blast raises the
sands of the Nubian desert, and whirls them onward in overwhelming
clouds. The paladin, by the advice of St. John, had prepared himself
with a leather bag, which he placed adroitly, with its mouth open, over
the vent whence issues this terrible wind. At the first dawn of morning
the wind rushed from its cavern to resume its daily course, and was
caught in the bag, and securely tied up. Astolpho, delighted with his
prize, returned to his army, placed himself at their head, and
commenced his march. The Abyssinians traversed without danger or
difficulty those vast fields of sand which separate their country from
the kingdoms of Northern Africa, for the terrible South-wind, taken
completely captive, had not force enough left to blow out a candle.

Senapus was distressed that he could not furnish any cavalry, for his
country, rich in camels and elephants, was destitute of horses