orward with flambeaux in their hands.

The slaves, seeing their master and the Sultan, fell prostrate: and
Horam inquired whether all was safe.

"Yes, my lord," answered the slaves. "We have not been disturbed since
my lord first brought us to this gloomy cavern."

"Where is Camul?" said the Vizier.

"He watches," replied the slaves, "with the axe in his hand."

"What hour of the night is it?" said Horam to his slaves.

"The third watch of the night is past," answered the slaves.

"Then enter, my Sultan," said Horam, "and see thine enemies perish
from before thee."

"What enemies? and what mysterious place is this?" said the Sultan.
"Who is Camul? and what axe doth he bear in his hand? Lead me, Horam,
not into danger, and remember that the sabre of my captain hangeth
over thy head."

The Sultan then entered in at the little door, and followed the Vizier
and his guard, and the four slaves with flambeaux in their hands.

In this manner Misnar passed through a long passage hewn out of the
solid rock, till he beheld, at a distance, a man seated on a stone
with an axe in his hand, and nine lamps burning before him.

As they drew near, the man fell prostrate before them; and the Vizier,
also falling prostrate, desired Misnar to take the axe out of the hand
of Camul his slave.

"What wonderful axe is this," said the Sultan, "that is thus preserved
in the bowels of the earth?"

The Sultan took the axe, and Camul the slave removing the stone on
which he sat, there appeared a strong rope underneath, one end of
which passed through the rocks, and the other was fastened to an
enormous ring of iron.

"Strike, royal master," said Horam, "and sever that rope from the ring
of iron."

The Sultan did as Horam desired, and struck the rope with his axe, and
divided it from the ring.

The rope, being released, flew with great swiftness through the hole
in the rock, and Misnar waited some time to see what might be the
consequence of cutting it asunder; but nothing appearing, he said to
his Vizier,

"Where are the riches, Horam, which I left my bed to view? Is this
like the rest of your promises? and am I brought here to be again
deceived?"

"Royal master," answered Horam, "let me die the death of a rebel. I
have nothing more to discover: pardon my follies, and avenge thine own
losses by the sword of justice."

"What!" said the Sultan, enraged, "hast thou brought me through the
dangerous passes of the mountains by ni