Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 8.djvu/145

133 ‘What crime hath our comrade committed, that thou shouldst cut off his head?’ The captain replied by putting his hand to his sword and striking off the speaker’s head, nor did he leave smiting the rest of the sailors, till he had slain them all and cast their bodies ashore.

Then he turned to Noureddin and cried out at him with a terrible great cry, that made him tremble, saying, ‘Go down and pull up the mooring-stake.’ Noureddin feared lest he should strike him also with the sword; so he leapt ashore and pulling up the stake, sprang aboard again, swiftlier than the dazzling lightning. The captain ceased not to bid him do this and do that and tack and wear and look at the stars, and Noureddin did all that he bade him, with heart a-tremble for fear; whilst he himself spread the sails and the ship stretched out with them with a fair wind into the surging sea, swollen with clashing billows. Noureddin held on to the tackle, drowned in the sea of solicitude and knowing not what was hidden for him in the future; and whenever he looked at the captain, his heart quaked and he knew not whither he went with him.

He abode thus, distraught with concern and inquietude, till it was broad day, when he looked at the captain and saw him take hold of his beard and pull at it, whereupon it came off in his hand and Noureddin, examining it, saw that it was but a false beard stuck on. So he considered the captain straitly, and behold, it was the Princess Meryem, his mistress and the beloved of his heart, who had waylaid the captain and killed him and skinned off his beard, which she had clapped on to her own face. At this Noureddin was transported for joy and his breast dilated and he marvelled at her valour and prowess and the stoutness of her heart and said to her, ‘Welcome, O thou my hope and my desire and the end of all my wishes!’ Then desire and gladness agitated him