Page:Voyages and travels of Sindbad the sailor (2).pdf/14

 succeeded, and the captain sent his boat for me. As soon as I got on board, the merchants, officers, and sailors gathered round me, eager to know how I came into that desert island. I related the misfortunes of my voyage, and they testified their joy at my wonderful escape from such imminent dangers.

When we came to an anchor at the port of Jalabat, the captain calling me to him, said: “ Sir, I have here some bales of goods which belonged to a merchant who sailed with me some time since, and he being dead, I intend to dispose of them for the benefit of his heirs. You shall sell them for me, and shall be allowed the usual factorage.” I eagerly inquired the name of the owner, and to my astonish- ment was told Sindbad. I could not hear myself named without emotion, and looking earnestly at the captain, I recollected him to be the person who, in my second voyage, had left me in the island where I had fallen asleep, and had set sail without me. “No, captain,” I exclaimed, “I did not perish. In me you behold that Sindbad, who escaped that and many other perils.” The captain being convinced, eagerly delivered me up the goods, and also strictly accounted with me for those he had sold. I continued my voyage with the honest captain, and sold my merchandise very advantageously, and at length returned to Bagdad with a vast increase of riches.

Sindbad having finished the relation of his Third Voyage, gave another present to Hindbad, and invited him to dinner the next day, to hear the adventures of tho Fourth Voyage.

Having settled my affairs, I commenced a journey over land into Persia, and having bought a large stock of the beautiful manufactures of that country, I loaded a vessel, and embarked with my goods. We had not been at sea many days when the ship struck upon a rock, and soon beat to pieces. The cargo went to the bottom, and many of the merchants and seamen were drowned.

I and a few others saved ourselves on a plank, and were carried by the current to an island that lay before us. Having got safely on shore, we were presently surrounded by black savages, who seized us, and shared us among them.

I and five of my companions were taken by one man, who gave us some herbs to eat. My companions eat greedily; but I, being overcome with sorrow, kept them in my hand without tasting. I presently observed that my companions lost their