acious animal. His body was full of them,
the blood gushed from every part of it, and an enormous stone thrown
at his head killed him on the spot.

After this exploit the huntsmen, anxious to discover the child whose
cries resounded in this frightful habitation, eagerly descended into
it. But what was their astonishment when they found there at the side
of a dead woman a beautiful infant, richly dressed, and swimming in
the blood of the wounds it had received! Their first care was to
assist the innocent creature, which still breathed. They bathed its
wounds, and wrapped them up with healing herbs. As soon as the infant
appeared more calm, they buried the nurse and examined this strange
retreat. The furniture of this small habitation appeared extremely
rich, and a quantity of provisions was found there, which seemed to
have come down from heaven. The huntsmen took possession of everything
by the right of conquest, and sought how they might take out of this
dungeon everything it concealed.

The basket of bulrushes was first employed in drawing up the young
child out of this habitation, and next all the effects, the furniture,
and the provisions, were raised by means of the pulley which was fixed
at the top of the cave. When everything was out a division was made.
The chief of the troop took possession of the infant, in whose
preservation he felt himself strongly interested, and carried it with
him to his own house.

The only son of the Sultan Hebraim had fallen into good hands. His
benefactor was a man of distinction, wealthy, and without a fault but
that of an unlimited passion for the chase. Struck with the beauty and
the sweetness of his young charge, he paid the greatest attention to
him. And when he found him capable of answering his questions, he
endeavoured to learn from him who he was, and for what reason he had
been made to dwell in so extraordinary a habitation.

"I know not," replied the child. "I lived with the woman whom you
found dead; she gave me everything I wanted. From time to time a man,
much bigger than you, came and stood at the top of the dwelling where
you found me. I was put into a basket and drawn up to him. He caressed
me very much, and called me his dear child. I called the woman Nurse,
and she likewise said I was her dear child. I know nothing more."

The benefactor could not conclude, from this simple declaration,
anything else than that this child owed its birth to parents of an
illustr