ravel separately, so that we might not be so
easily recognised by the spies of Siroco.

'A few days later I found myself at the door of an old castle near the
sea, before which a tall slave was pacing to and fro. The gift of one or
two worthless jewels loosened his tongue, and he informed me that he was
in the service of the son of the Bassa of the Sea, at that time making
war in distant countries. The youth, he told me, had been destined from
his boyhood to marry the daughter of Siroco, whose sisters were to be
the brides of his brothers, and went on to speak of the talisman that
his charge possessed. But I could think of nothing but the beautiful
Zelida, and my passion, which I thought I had conquered, awoke in full
force.

'In order to remove this dangerous rival from my path, I resolved to
kidnap him, and to this end I began to act a madman, and to sing and
dance loudly, crying to the slave to fetch the boy and let him see my
tricks. He consented, and both were so diverted with my antics that they
laughed till the tears ran down their cheeks, and even tried to imitate
me. Then I declared I felt thirsty and begged the slave to fetch me
some water, and while he was absent I advised the youth to take off his
turban, so as to cool his head. He complied gladly, and in the twinkling
of an eye was changed into a pot. A cry from the slave warned me that
I had no time to lose if I would save my life, so I snatched up the pot
and fled with it like the wind.

'You have heard, my lords, what became of the pot, so I will only say
now that when I awoke it had disappeared; but I was partly consoled for
its loss by finding my two brothers fast asleep not far from me. "How
did you get here?" I inquired, "and what has happened to you since we
parted?"

'"Alas!" replied Izouf, "we were passing a wayside inn from which came
sounds of songs and laughter, and fools that we were--we entered and sat
down. Circassian girls of great beauty were dancing for the amusement of
several men, who not only received us politely, but placed us near the
two loveliest maidens. Our happiness was complete, and time flew unknown
to us, when one of the Circassians leaned forward and said to her
sister, 'Their brother danced, and they must dance too.' What they meant
by these words I know not, but perhaps you can tell us?"

'"I understand quite well," I replied. "They were thinking of the day
that I stole the son of the Bassa, and had danced before him.