ut unable to
resist any longer, he seized it and drank, as tormenting thirst at last
overcame his loathing. He had no sooner drank than the leech fastened
on his lip and bit him so sharply that he fell on the ground senseless.
Being aroused again by shaking, the little miner stood before him,
crying, "Have you thrown my goblet to the ground a second time?"

Hussain trembled, but made no reply.

"For this time it may pass. Follow me," said the monster.

Hussain was obliged to follow him further into the desert, when the
little man said, "I want to find gold and precious stones for my
crowns; but you are as yet too weak and ignorant to work in my mines: I
have, therefore, for the present, destined you for some light work.
You shall seek gold and precious stones on the desert. Every evening
you must bring me at least three good stones, and one ounce and a half
of gold; if you fail to do so, you may reckon upon punishment for your
idleness."

What a task for the unfortunate Hussain! He was obliged to walk the
whole day on the dry sand, and search under a scorching sun. He could
but rarely satisfy his cruel master, who generally punished him by
hunger and thirst, and the terrible icy cold bath. His food consisted
of mouldy bread, some fruits, and water out of the loathsome goblet;
but he was already so accustomed to the leech, that he was no longer
disgusted with it, making it rather his sole friend and companion.
When his hands were swollen from his long search between sharp stones,
and his feet with walking on them, he applied the leech to the
blisters, which mitigated his pains by sucking the inflamed blood.
Thus he lived for a long time. His pride and haughtiness, which in
former days had caused his daughter and himself so much sorrow, were
gradually forgotten; only his hatred and abhorrence for Ibrahim was
still felt, as though he were the cause of his misery.

But it is now time to return to Ali and see what in the meanwhile has
happened to him. The first weeks of his disconsolate state had passed;
despair had exhausted itself; and hope began to revive him by pleasing
anticipations, reminding him daily of Lockman as the sole sheet-anchor
of his happiness. He indeed at first shuddered at the idea of
resorting to an evil spirit, but afterwards said within himself, "Is it
then really certain that he is evil? What has he done to prove him
malignant? Near Ali Haymmamy's fountain in the desert I have seen
no