Houadir will neglect me, if I so easily
neglect myself."

She waited that night with fear and trembling; but no Vizier appeared.

This eased her greatly, and the next day, when the eunuchs came, they
informed her that Mussapulta had that evening been sent by the Sultan
to quell an insurrection, and that they did not expect him home under
twenty days.

During this time no pains were spared with Urad to teach her the
accomplishments of the country, all which, in spite of her
unwillingness to learn in such a detestable place, she nevertheless
acquired with the utmost ease and facility.

The insurrection being quelled, the Vizier returned, and, not
unmindful of his fair captive, ordered that she might be prepared for
his reception in the evening.

Accordingly Urad was sumptuously adorned with jewels and brocades, and
looked more beautiful than the fairest Circassian; and the dignity of
her virtue added such a grace to her charms, that even her keepers,
the eunuchs, dared not look upon her. In the evening the chief eunuch
led her into the presence of Mussapulta. She shrank from him with
horror.

"What!" said he, "cannot a fortnight's pleasure in this palace efface
the remembrance of your sorrows? But be gay and cheerful, for know
that the Vizier Mussapulta esteems you beyond any of his wives."

"The esteem of a robber, the esteem of a lawless ranger," answered
Urad, "charms not the ears of virtue."

"What," said Mussapulta, sternly, "dost thou refuse my proffered love?
Then shalt thou die! Slay this proud maiden in my sight. Cut off her
head at once."

The eunuch hesitated.

"Why," said the proud Vizier, "do you delay to obey me?"

As he said this an eunuch came running in haste, crying, "The Sultan,
the Sultan Almurah, approaches!"

All was instant confusion. Mussapulta turned pale and trembled. He
ordered the eunuch to release the fair Urad, and at that moment the
faithful lion entered with the Sultan Almurah.

The lion instantly seized on the Vizier Mussapulta, and tore him limb
from limb. Yet the generous animal would not defile himself with the
carcass, but with great wrath tossed the bloody remains among the
females of the seraglio.

Almurah commanded Urad to advance, and at the sight of her,

"O royal beast," said he to the lion, "I wonder not that thou wert
unable to describe the beauties of this lovely maid, since they are
almost too dazzling to behold. O virtuous maid," continued Almurah,
"whos