Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 7.djvu/155

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They fared on till they came to the foot of the mountain, where they halted and Hassan saw thereon a palace and said to Behram, ‘What is yonder palace?’ And he answered, ‘It is the abode of Jinn and ghouls and devils.’ Then the Magian alighted and making Hassan dismount also, kissed his head and said to him, ‘Bear me not malice for that I did with thee, for I will keep guard over thee in thine ascent to the palace; and I conjure thee not to wrong me of aught thou shalt bring therefrom, and I and thou will share therein equally.’ And Hassan answered, ‘I hear and obey.’ Then Behram opened a bag and taking out a handmill and a quantity of wheat, ground the latter in the mill and kneaded three cakes of the flour; after which he lighted a fire and baked them.

Then he took out the drum and beat it with the strap, whereupon up came the dromedaries. He chose out one of them and slew and skinned it; then turned to Hassan and said to him, ‘Give ear, O my son Hassan, to what I am about to enjoin on thee.’ And Hassan replied, ‘It is well.’ ‘Lie down on this skin,’ said Behram, ‘and I will sew thee up therein and lay thee on the ground; whereupon the rocs will come to thee and carry thee up to the mountain-top. Take this knife with thee, and when thou feelest that the birds have set thee down, slit open the skin with the knife and come forth. They will take fright at thee and fly away; whereupon do thou look down and speak to me, and I will tell thee what to do.’ So saying, he sewed him up in the skin, with the three cakes and a leathern bottle full of water, and withdrew to a distance.

Presently a roc pounced upon him and taking him up, flew away with him to the mountain-top and there set him