she discovered features which reminded her of a man of hideous
appearance whom she had seen once or twice in her life, namely,
Lockman, Ali's slave. Once while she was walking across a field
leading to a forest, a dreadful tiger came running towards her with
open jaws; he stopped on coming quite close, couched down and stared at
her, as if he were going to pounce on her and tear her to pieces. At
first Gulhyndi was terrified, but soon recovered herself. At this
moment the young king, returning from hunting amid the sounds of
bugles, approached, and seeing the tiger in this menacing attitude
before her, hastened to kill him with his spear. "I have saved your
life, fair maiden," said he.

"Impossible, sir," she replied; "my earthly life, as you have before
told me, I have lost already, and my eternal life I can obtain only by
a good conscience, and lose only by sinful thoughts, from which may
Allah preserve me!"

"I appreciate your courage and sagacity," said the young king, vexed,
and he left her in anger.

After several days had passed, and Gulhyndi still continued the same,
the young king said, "It is my duty, fair Gulhyndi, to show you what
you do not desire to see. You are lavishing your affections on an
unworthy mortal, and thereby render yourself unfit for joys of a higher
order. Are you desirous of seeing your Ali once more?"

"Oh!" cried she, "favour me with this blessed sight, and you shall reap
my eternal gratitude."

"You shall see him this very night in your grotto," replied he.

In the evening, shortly after sunset, while the moon shed her beams on
the grotto, he came again, dressed as when she first saw him, in his
purple mantle, and with a crown of rubies on his head, which sparkled
brightly in the moon's rays. "Look into the depth of the cavern while
all is dark," he said, "but take care not to look at me during the
appearance of the apparition, otherwise all will suddenly vanish."

He now waved his wand, and Gulhyndi saw through a bright opening, her
Ali in the deep recess, in the arms of a beautiful young girl, and she
heard him say, "Fair Zulima! can you love me: Gulhyndi is dead, and my
love has expired with her." On hearing these words Gulhyndi grew pale,
but recovering herself suddenly, and remembering the warning of the
young king, she turned her head quickly, without being observed, and
now beheld by her side, instead of the beautiful youth, Lockman, with
his hideous humps, squint