I am!" said he to them, "your fatal prediction is
verified: my son has been devoured by a tiger before the expiration of
the seven years; for in the retreat which I prepared for him I have
found nothing but the body of an enormous tiger."

"Invincible Sultan!" replied the astrologers, "since the event forces
from you an acknowledgment of the truth of our presage, we must
congratulate you now on being beyond the reach of an inevitable death,
which he whose loss you deplore would have brought upon you. Your son,
falling under his destiny, has died in innocence and you are
preserved."

This reflection brought some relief to the natural sorrow of the
Sultan, and time completely effaced the remembrance of it.

In the meantime, Abaquir, of whom we must not lose sight, grew weary
of his idleness in this little village where he had been so well
received. His landlord had a numerous family, and but very small
resources for their maintenance. The young Prince being unwilling to
be a burden on him, went frequently to hunt in the country. One day as
he had killed a deer, and was preparing to lay it on his shoulders, he
was suddenly surrounded by a troop of horsemen, and doubted not that
he was in the middle of a band of robbers.

"Companion!" said the chief to him, "you hunt on foot, and carry
nothing but a bow. There are, however, in these deserts many lions and
tigers, and you may some day be worsted. Come and hunt along with us,
and we will give you an excellent horse."

Abaquir, already eager for the chase, thought he had found an
excellent opportunity of following his inclination, and of relieving
his landlord of the burden of his entertainment. He briskly replied to
this offer by saying that he accepted the favour they intended him of
admitting him into their number. The chief of the band perceived by
this reply that the young man, who was as yet a novice, had not
understood his proposal in its true sense, and thus resumed his
speech:

"Since you are willing to join us, we will breakfast together to
confirm our acquaintance."

Upon this the rest of the band dismounted, opened their knapsacks, and
began each to satisfy his appetite.

"Since you are one of us," said the chief, "I must inform you of the
laws by which we are governed. We love and assist one another as
brethren, we make an equal division of our booty, and we swear to be
faithful in life or in death."

"I have already lived among hunters," replied Abaq