Page:Fairy tales from the Arabian nights.djvu/402

 all my tears and sorrow would not bring the young man to life again, and the forty days being ended, I might be surprised by his father. I quitted the subterranean dwelling, laid down the great stone upon the entry of it, and covered it with earth.

I had scarcely done when, casting my eyes upon the sea towards the mainland, I perceived the vessel coming to fetch the young man home. I began then to consider what I had better do. I said to myself, 'If I am seen by the old man, he will certainly lay hold of me, and perhaps cause me to be massacred by his slaves, when he has seen that his son is killed: all that I can allege to justify myself will not persuade him of my innocence. It is better for me to withdraw, since it is in my power, than to expose myself to his resentment.'

There happened to be near the subterranean habitation a large tree with thick leaves, which I thought fit to hide in. I got up into it, and was no sooner settled in a place where I could not be seen than I saw the vessel come to the same place as before.

The old man and his slaves landed immediately, and advanced towards the subterranean dwelling, with a countenance that showed some hope; but when they saw that the earth had been newly removed, they changed colour, particularly the old man. They lifted up the stone and went down; they called the young man by his name, but as he did not answer, their fears increased. They went down to seek him, and at length, found him lying upon the bed with the knife in his heart, for I had not power to draw it out. At this sight they cried out lamentably, which increased my sorrow; and the old man fell down in a swoon. To give him air the slaves brought him up in their arms, and laid him at the foot of the tree where I was; but notwithstanding all the pains they took to revive him, the unfortunate father continued insensible a long while, and made them oftener than once despair of his life; but at last he came to himself. Then the slaves brought up his son's corpse, dressed in his best apparel; they made a grave, and put him into it. The old man, supported by two slaves, and his face wet with tears, threw the first earth upon him, after which the slaves filled up the grave.

This being done, all the furniture was brought up from under-