self very grateful if you will let me
escape."

The watchman answered, "I dare not; for my life is at stake."

This conversation continued for some time. Jussuf offered him six
purses of sequins, and a large diamond, which was worth ten times
their value. He had still a box of the finest and most costly
diamonds, which he had taken from Hassan. But the guard always urged
other objections. He did not deny that he would willingly win the
prize; but he dreaded the consequences. Jussuf proposed that he should
flee with him, and seek another home; but he would not listen to it.

"I cannot separate from my wife and children; I must return home. What
good would all the possessions of earth be to me if I were obliged to
live a fugitive in a strange country, and consume my life longing
after my kindred?"

Then a thought flashed through Jussuf's mind. "Let me stop your
mouth--let me bind and tie you, that they may perceive that you were
overcome. When they find you so, you can exculpate yourself, saying
that I was too strong for you--that I stopped your mouth, so that you
could not cry for help. I will give you what I have said, and you can
bury it in the sand, and dig it up at some fit season."

The bargain was soon struck. Jussuf gave him what he had promised. The
guard buried the purses in the sand, hid the diamond in a fold of his
garment, and then allowed Jussuf to tie his hands and feet, and to
stop his mouth. Then Jussuf passed as quietly through the camp as he
could, mounted one of the horses which stood ready saddled, and set
off at a full gallop.

Thus he escaped fortunately. He rode the whole night, and thereby won
a lengthened start. But still he feared that they might perceive the
track of the horse's hoofs, and follow him, and fetch him back; so he
killed his horse (whose strength was relaxing) with his dagger, and
fled into a neighbouring wood, where he hoped, by its thickness, to be
screened from the pursuit of riders. Here he refreshed himself by
drinking at a spring of water, and with fruits and berries, which grew
there in abundance. He then went on farther and farther. He observed,
in his flight, the traces of wild beasts, and was therefore afraid to
lie down on the ground. In the evening he climbed a high tree, bound
himself fast to a branch, and composed himself for the night. His seat
was very uncomfortable, and he always feared danger. Still his
resolution overcame his fear, and he slept quietly for