been taken from me, I
would endeavour----"

Catnier answered him, "Go, return to Ephesus; other misfortunes attend
thee there."

These words threw Dakianos into the utmost confusion. He returned
immediately, and found that the demon of hatred had seized upon his
three sons, that they had drawn their sabres against each other, and
that the angel of death was come to fetch them hence, which he did
before his eyes. What an affliction to a father! What a disappointment
to an ambitious mind, who depended upon giving each of them an empire
in different parts of the world!

In the midst of the sorrow with which he was surrounded, he could not
prevent himself from returning once more to the cavern. "Wretches!"
said he to them, "what torments ought I not to make you suffer when
you shall fall into my hands? However, restore me my children, and I
will forgive all that you have done against me."

Catnier, who always spoke, answered him thus:

"God will restore no children whom He has banished from the world to
punish the crimes of their father. Go, return to Ephesus. Thou
deservest to find new misfortunes there."

"It is too much," cried Dakianos, retiring; and immediately, with rage
and despair in his heart, he commanded all his troops, and all the
inhabitants of Ephesus, to bring each of them a faggot, and see his
orders executed. Then he caused this enormous quantity of wood to be
piled before the cavern, in hopes of stifling those whom it enclosed;
but the wind beat back the flames of this amazing fire against the
army (who took to flight), and against the city. No private house,
notwithstanding, was in the least incommoded by it; but the fire
seized upon the palace of Dakianos, which was wholly reduced to ashes,
and all the treasure which he had amassed with so much care vanished
in a moment, whilst the cavern did not undergo the least alteration.
This last prodigy engaged him to have recourse to the seven sleepers,
and to Catnier himself, begging them to intercede for him. The little
dog answered him thus:

"It is fear, and not piety, that seems to soften the hardness of thy
heart. Begone: thou canst not deceive Allah."

Dakianos retired, confounded with this last reproach, but still more
distracted at having humbled himself so far.

In the midst of all these misfortunes which succeeded each other to
oppress this enemy of God, the revolt, which was considerably
augmented, demanded an example to be made, and the h