Page:Tales from the Arabic, Vol 2.djvu/295

271 up to them and accosted them, saying, ‘Fear not, no harm shall betide you; for I am a mortal, like unto you, and I would fain look on you and talk with you and hear your singing.’ So they welcomed her and abode in their place, whilst Jemreh sat down beside them and fell a-snuffing their odours and saying, ‘I smell the scent of the Jinn! I wonder whence [it cometh!’] Then said Wekhimeh to her sister Kemeriyeh, ‘Yonder filthy one [smelleth us] and presently she will take to flight; so what is this remissness concerning her?’ Thereupon Kemeriyeh put out a hand, as it were a camel’s neck, and dealt Jemreh a buffet on the head, that made it fly from her body and cast it into the sea. Then said she, ‘God is most great!’ And they uncovered their faces, whereupon Tuhfeh knew them and said to them, ‘Protection!’

Queen Kemeriyeh embraced her, as also did Queen Zelzeleh and Queen Wekhimeh and Queen Sherareh, and the former said to her, ‘Rejoice in assured deliverance, for there abideth no harm for thee; but this is no time for talk.’ Then they cried out, whereupon up came the Afrits ambushed in the island, with swords and maces in their hands, and taking up Tuhfeh, flew with her to the palace and made themselves masters thereof, whilst the Afrit aforesaid, who was dear to Meimoun and whose name was Dukhan, fled like an arrow and stayed not in his flight till he carne to Meimoun and found him engaged in