me return the favourite of the new monarch, and it will then be in
my power to raise thee to higher dignities than those which thy father
now possesses.'

"Hazar then left me by night, and soon I heard that he had joined the
rebel army; but, O generous stranger! what was my grief when I
understood that Ulin, the detestable enchantress, was stricken with
his appearance, and had deceived him! I set out without delay for the
camp, and, studying to avoid the army of Misnar, travelled through
this wood with four slaves.

"Being now arrived at the farther side, I struck into the thickest
part of the forest, and, losing sight of my attendants, I wandered
about for some time till morning, when on a sudden I heard several
voices among the trees. In an instant four ruffians surrounded me,
and, had not your powerful arm interposed, I should have suffered the
vilest of deaths."

Misnar endeavoured to comfort the afflicted stranger, and asked her
whether she thought it possible for any man to enter the palace of
Ulin undiscovered.

"O Sultan," said she, "let me prevail upon you to follow me, and I
will ensure your success."

Misnar besought her to walk before, and show him the path which led to
the palace.

"We will reach it by night," said the stranger, "when the darkness
shall protect thee."

The beautiful stranger then went forward, and Misnar followed after.
Ere they had proceeded twenty paces, Misnar said,

"It will be proper, O fair stranger, to draw my scimitar, lest we be
set upon suddenly by the robbers."

"You are right," answered the fair stranger, "and your precaution is
just."

The Sultan Misnar, having drawn his sabre, followed close behind the
beautiful stranger, and suddenly with a blow smote her on the
shoulders, and felled her to the ground.

She had no sooner fallen, than her countenance changed, and discovered
to Misnar the features of the malicious enchantress Ulin, who, though
nearly spent and exhausted by the blow, yet lived to utter the
following imprecations:

"May the curse of our sex light upon thee, thou traitor to manhood!
since neither the charms nor the afflictions of the fair have been
able to soften thine heart. Thou hast, indeed, avoided my snares, by
doing violence to the noblest of passions, and by trampling on the
most sacred laws of humanity and hospitality. Idiot that I was to
trust myself to thee, though guarded by the strongest appearances of
innocence and distress! The inju