he people, who saw
Alla ad Deen thus led as a state criminal, never doubted but that
his head was to be cut off; and as he was generally beloved, some
took sabres and other arms; and those who had none gathered
stones, and followed the escort. The last division faced about to
disperse them; but their numbers presently increased so much,
that the soldiery began to think it would be well if they could
get into the sultan's palace before Alla ad Deen was rescued; to
prevent which, according to the different extent of the streets,
they took care to cover the ground by extending or closing. In
this manner they with much difficulty arrived at the palace
square, and there drew up in a line, till their officer and
troopers with Alla ad Deen had got within the gates, which were
immediately shut.

Alla ad Deen was carried before the sultan, who waited for him,
attended by the grand vizier, in a balcony; and as soon as he saw
him, he ordered the executioner, who waited there for the
purpose, to strike off his head without hearing him or giving him
leave to clear himself.

As soon as the executioner had taken off the chain that was
fastened about Alla ad Deen's neck and body, and laid down a skin
stained with the blood of the many he had executed, he made the
supposed criminal kneel down, and tied a bandage over his eyes.
Then drawing his sabre, took his aim by flourishing it three
times in the air, waiting for the sultan's giving the signal to
strike.

At that instant the grand vizier perceiving that the populace had
forced the guard of horse, crowded the great square before the
palace, and were scaling the walls in several places, and
beginning to pull them down to force their way in; he said to the
sultan, before he gave the signal, "I beg of your majesty to
consider what you are going to do, since you will hazard your
palace being destroyed; and who knows what fatal consequence may
follow?" "My palace forced!" replied the sultan; "who can have
that audacity?" "Sir," answered the grand vizier, "if your
majesty will but cast your eyes towards the great square, and on
the palace walls, you will perceive the truth of what I say."

The sultan was so much alarmed when he saw so great a crowd, and
how enraged they were, that he ordered the executioner to put his
sabre immediately into the scabbard, to unbind Alla ad Deen, and
at the same time commanded the porters to declare to the people
that the sultan had pardoned him, and