ted than I began
to inspect the order and discipline of your troops; to look into the
methods of providing for the army; and to appoint proper officers, who
should take care that the soldiers had sufficient and wholesome
provision--that their tents were good--that the situations of the
different battalions were in healthy places, near springs and rivers,
but on dry soils, and as far as possible removed from swampy fens or
the stagnated air of the forests.

"During this time little occurred of which I could inform my lord, as
I meant not to trouble you with my own concerns, lest it should seem
that I was proud of the trifling dispositions which I had made in
favour of the army.

"The rebels in the meantime were quiet, and their distance only
prevented me from destroying them; but, on a sudden, a messenger
arrived with tidings that all the southern provinces had revolted;
that the enchantress Ulin was with them, and conducted their forces;
that Ahubal was declared Sultan of India by her; and that she was
determined to support his cause. Upon this I took such precautions as,
doubtless, my Sultan must have read in the tablets; but my precautions
seemed vain, for the next night we were on a sudden terrified with a
second alarm, that the rebels were within half a day's march of our
camp, which I thought, considering their former distance, must be the
effect of enchantment.

"This threw our officers into the greatest consternation, who,
collecting themselves in a body, came rushing towards the royal tent,
and demanded a sight of the Sultan, and declared their resolution of
revolting to the enemy unless you headed the troops.

"I was writing despatches in the royal tent when I heard their tumult,
and my heart fled as they approached; but as they stopped for some
time to fix upon one for their speaker, I had just time to slip on a
slave's habit, and cut my way through the hinder part of the tent.

"I ran as swiftly as my feet could carry me out of the encampment; and
being stopped by several sentinels, I told them I was dispatched by
the Vizier, and showed them my own signet.

"But I was no sooner clear of the army than I repented of my folly.
'What have I done?' said I to myself. 'I have deserted my post, and
ruined the interests of my lord: better had I died at the head of my
Sultan's troops, or fallen a sacrifice to their rage, than thus
ingloriously to perish! Besides, I may have been terrified without
just cause: th