Page:Tales from the Arabic, Vol 3.djvu/234

212 of men] are ye and what country is this?’ ‘O my brother,’ answered he, ‘we are husbandmen and come to this river, to draw water, wherewithal to water our fields; and whilst we were thus engaged to-day, as of wont, this boat appeared to us on the surface of the water, issuing from the inward of yonder mountain. So we came to it and finding thee asleep therein, moored it to the shore, against thou shouldst awake. Acquaint us, therefore, with thy history and tell us how thou camest hither and whence thou enteredst this river and what land is behind yonder mountain, for that we have never till now known any make his way thence to us.’ But I said to them, ‘Give me somewhat to eat and after question me.’ So they brought me food and I ate and my spirits revived and I was refreshed. Then I related to them all that had befallen me, whereat they were amazed and confounded and said, ‘By Allah, this is none other than a marvellous story, and needs must we carry thee to our king, that thou mayst acquaint him therewith.’ So they carried me before their king, and I kissed his hand and saluted him.

Now he was the king of the land of Serendib,