heart to plead in their favour, lest it become as much
your enemy as the tempter, man. Place your security in flight, and
avoid every evil, lest it lead you into danger, for hard it is to turn
the head and look backward when a beautiful or agreeable object is
before you. Remember my instructions, O Urad! make a prudent use of
your peppercorns, and leave this place, which holds a man sensible of
your folly and resolute in his own dark and subtle intentions."

Urad was about to thank Houadir, but the genius was fled, and the
eyelids of the morning were opening in the east.

Urad, in a little wallet, packed up her small stock of necessaries,
and, full of terror and full of uncertainty, struck into the forest,
and without reflection took the widest path that offered. And first,
it was her care to repeat over deliberately the lessons of Houadir.
She then travelled slowly forward, often looking, and fearing to
behold the wicked Darandu at her heels.

After walking through the forest for the greater part of the day, she
came to a steep descent, on each side overshadowed with lofty trees;
this she walked down, and came to a small spot of ground surrounded by
hills, woods, and rocks. Here she found a spring of water, and sat
down on the grass to refresh herself after the travels of the day.

As Urad's meal was almost at an end she heard various voices issuing
from the woods on the hills opposite to that which she came down. Her
little heart beat quick at this alarm; and recollecting the advice of
Houadir, she began to repeat the lessons of her instructress, and ere
long she perceived through the trees several men coming down the hill,
who, at sight of her, gave a loud halloo, and ran forward, each being
eager who should first seize the prize.

Urad, trembling and sighing at her danger, forgot not to drop one of
her peppercorns, and immediately she found herself changed into a
pismire, and with great pleasure she looked for a hole in the ground,
and crept into it.

The robbers, coming down to the bottom of the vale, were surprised to
find their prize eloped; but they divided into separate bodies,
resolved to hunt till night, and then appointed that little vale as
the place of rendezvous.

Urad, perceiving that they were gone, wished herself into her original
form, but alas! her wish was not granted, and the once beautiful Urad
still continued an ugly pismire.

Late at night the robbers returned, and the moon shining bri