Page:Voyages and travels of Sindbad the sailor (3).pdf/24

24 but the king would take no denial, but ordered me one thousand sequins for the expenses of my journey.

I embarked and had a favourable voyage. When I arrived at Serindib, I delivered the caliph’s letter and present, which he reeeived with satisfaetion.

A little time afterwards I solicited leave to depart. We had not been long at sea before we were attaeked by eorsairs, who seized upon our ship, and carried us into slavery.

We were all sold for slaves, and I was bought by a rich merchant, who carried me to his house, and put on me a slave's habit. He inquired if I understood the use of the bow; I assured him I did. He then gave me a bow and arrows, and taking me behind him upon an elephant, earried me to a forest some leagues from the town. We rode a great way, and stopped near an exeeding high tree. My master bid me alight, and climb that tree; telling me I must wait there till I saw a troop ef elephants pass by, and then shoot at them, and if any ono fell, I was to hasten back to the eity to give him notiee of it. Having given me proper directions, he left me a bag of provisions, and returned to the town.

As soon as the sun arose on the following morning, I beheld a great number: I shot several arrows among them, and at last one of the elephants fell; the rest retired immediately, and left me at liberty to go and acquaint my patron with my sueeess. He commended my diligence, and we went back to the forest and dug a holo to bury the elephant in, till he decayed, when the merchant intended to take his teeth, for he traded in ivory.

I eontinued this eourse for two months. Ono morning one of the largest of them wound his trunk round the stem of the tree on which I was, and tore it up by the roots. I fell with the tree, and the same elephant taking me up with his trunk laid me on his baek, and earried me to a hill, and left me. I ventured to get up, and diseovered the hill eovered all over with the bones and teeth of elephants. I did not stay, but returned to my master, who eoneluded I was destroyed. I condueted him to the hill, and we loaded the elephant on which we rode with as many teeth as he eould earry.

My master then gave me liberty to return to my own country. He loaded a ship with a valuable cargo for me, and abundance of provisions.

We set sail, and at last I came safe to Bagdad, and presented myself to the ealiph.

Sindbad then gave Hindbad a hundred sequins, and desired him to quit his porter’s employment, and eome every day to dine with him, that he might have reason to remember Sindbad the Sailor.