Page:Fairy tales from the Arabian nights.djvu/393

 THE HISTORY OF AGIB

Y NAME IS AGIB, and I am the son of a king called Cassib. After his death I took possession of his dominions, and resided in the same city. This city is situated on the sea coast; it has one of the finest and safest harbours in the world, an arsenal capable of fitting out for sea one hundred and fifty men of war that are always ready, and fifty merchantmen, besides light frigates and pleasure-boats. My kingdom consists of several fine provinces upon the mainland, and a number of spacious islands, every one of which lies almost in sight of my capital.

The first thing I did was to visit the provinces: I afterwards caused the whole fleet to be fitted out and manned, and went to the islands to gain the hearts of my subjects by my presence, and to confirm them in their loyalty; and after some time I went thither again. These voyages gave me some taste for navigation, and I took so much pleasure in it that I resolved to make some discoveries beyond my islands; to which end I caused only ten ships to be fitted out, embarked, and set sail.

Our voyage was very successful for forty days together, but on the forty-first night the wind become contrary, and so boisterous that we were nearly lost in the storm. About break of day the wind grew calm, the clouds dispersed, and, the sun having brought back fair weather, we came close to an island, where we remained for two days to take in fresh provisions; after which we put off again to sea. After ten days' sail we were in hopes of seeing land, for the tempests we had gone through had so much abated my 367