Page:Fairy tales from the Arabian nights.djvu/309

 telling him that a young gentleman, who very much resembled him, was with him a short time before; that, overcome by his importunity, he had shown him the way, given him a guide, and told him how he should act; but that he had not seen him since, and doubted not he had shared the same fate as all before him.

'Good dervish,' answered Prince Perviz, 'I know of whom you speak; he was my elder brother, and I know of his death, but not what it was.'

'I can tell you,' replied the dervish; 'he was changed into a black stone, as all I speak of have been; and you must expect the same fate unless you observe more exactly than he did the good advice I gave him, if you persist in your resolution, which I once more entreat you to renounce.'

'Dervish,' said Prince Perviz, 'I cannot say how much I am obliged to you for the care you take of my life, as I have done nothing to deserve your kindness; but I thoroughly considered this enterprise before I undertook it, and I cannot give it up; therefore I beg you to do me the same favour as you did my brother. Perhaps I may have better success in following your directions.'

'Since,' said the dervish, 'I cannot persuade you to give up your obstinate resolution, if my age did not prevent me and I could stand, I would get up to bring you a bowl I have here, which will show you the way.'

Without giving him time to say more, the prince alighted from his horse and went up to the dervish, who had taken a bowl out of his bag, and gave it him, with the same directions as he had given Prince Bahman; and after warning him not to be frightened at the voices he would hear without seeing anybody, however threatening they might be, but to continue his way up the hill till he saw the cage and bird, he let him go.

Prince Perviz thanked the dervish, and when he had remounted his horse, and taken leave, he threw the bowl before his horse, and followed it. When the bowl came to the bottom of the hill it stopped, and the prince got off his horse, and stood some time to recollect the dervish's directions. He encouraged himself, and began to walk up with a resolution to reach the top; but before he had gone six steps he heard a voice, which seemed to be that