onster. The
nimblest got into the sloop; others betook themselves to swimming; as
for me, I was still upon the island when it sank into the sea, and I
had only time to catch hold of a piece of wood that we brought from
the ship to make a fire. Meanwhile the captain, having taken the
others on board, resolved to make the most of the favoring gale that
had just risen, and sailed away.

Thus was I left to the mercy of the waves for the rest of the day and
the night that followed. By this time I found my strength gone, and
was despairing of my life, when happily a wave threw me against an
island. The bank was high and rugged, but some roots of trees helped
me to get up. When the sun arose, I was very feeble, but managed to
find some herbs that were fit to eat, and a spring of good water. Thus
refreshed, I advanced farther into the island, and reached a fine
plain, where I saw some horses feeding. As I went towards them, I
heard the voice of a man who appeared and asked me who I was. When I
had told him my adventure, he led me by the hand into a cave, where
there were several other people, no less amazed to see me than I was
to see them.

I partook of some food which they gave me, and then learned that they
were grooms belonging to the sovereign of the island, where they
brought the king's horses every year for pasturage. They were to
return home on the morrow, and had I been one day later I must have
perished, because the inhabited part of the island was far off, and I
could never have reached it without a guide.

The next morning they took me to the capital of the island, and
presented me to the sovereign. When at his request I told him of my
misfortune, he was much concerned, and gave orders that I should want
for nothing; and his commands were carefully fulfilled.

As a merchant I met with many men of my own profession, and sought
news from Bagdad, and the opportunity to return; for the capital of
the island has a fine harbor, where ships arrive daily from many
quarters of the world. I took delight also in hearing the talk of
learned Indians, and withal paid my court to the sovereign, and met
with the governors and petty kings that were subject to him, telling
and learning much.

There belongs to this king an island named Cassel, where the mariners
said that every night the noise of drums might be heard. This
wonderful place I visited, and on the way thither saw fishes of one
hundred and two hundred cubits in leng