Page:The book of wonder voyages (1919).djvu/153

 whither goest thou?" Then the Fire Worshiper replied: "I am bound for the Mountain of Clouds, where is the elixir which we use in alchemy." And he swore by the Fire and the Light, he had no longer cause to fear him. Then Hasan's heart was set at ease, and they ceased not sailing till the ship came to anchor off a long coast of many-colored pebbles, white, and yellow, and sky-blue, and black, and every other hue. And the Fire Worshiper sprang up and said: "O Hasan, come, let us go ashore." And they landed and tramped inland till they were out of sight of the ship, when Barham sat down, and taking from his pocket a kettledrum of copper, and a silken strap worked in gold, beat the drum with the strap till there arose a cloud of dust from the further side of the desert. Presently the dust lifted, and behold there were three dromedaries, one for Barham, one for Hasan, and on the other they placed their food and baggage. And they fared on these for seven days, and on the eighth the Fire Worshiper said: "O Hasan, what seest thou?" And Hasan said: "I see clouds and mist from east and west." And Barham answered: "That is neither clouds nor mist, but a vast and lofty mountain on which the clouds split: it is for that I have brought thee thither." And they ceased not faring till they came to the foot of the mountain, where they halted. And Hasan saw a palace on it and asked Barham: "What is yonder palace?" And Barham replied: "It is an abode of the Jinns, and the Ghouls, and the Satans; there dwells a foe of mine."