lions remained at their post,
and Argus remained in the grotto with her mistress, as lady in waiting.

Ali trembled with emotion when he beheld Gulhyndi, her fair hair
flowing in long tresses. She wore a green silk robe, fastened with a
purple girdle, without any other ornament. She appeared taller, more
blooming and majestic; she was no longer the languishing, pensive,
Oriental beauty sighing for liberty, but the healthy, sprightly
daughter of Eve, blooming as the fairest flower in nature. Still a
soft desire seemed to depress her arched brow, and indicated that, in
the midst of abundance, she still lacked something.

While she was sitting with her eyes cast downwards, she discovered the
lines traced on the sand. She immediately recognised the characters,
but was doubtful whether she should trust her eyes. What was her
delight when convinced of the truth, by the happy Ali hastening and
throwing himself at her feet! Both now were in Paradise.

When their first transport was over, they related all that had happened
to them since they last met. She told him that once, when she was
alone in the grotto, the two lions had suddenly broken through the
hedge. At this she was at first alarmed, but soon recovered on seeing
that they lay down on either side of the entrance, like obedient dogs,
and followed her as faithful guards. Ali could not suppress an inward
shudder at seeing that they resembled the bronze lions which, at
Peribanu's command, had become hairy, and left the subterranean
apartment. He now built a hut in the neighbourhood of his Gulhyndi,
without concern for his father, whom he confidently supposed was in the
power of the fairy. But, unfortunately, this poor father had not fared
so well as his happy son wished.

Ibrahim wandered for a long time in that awful night; he hastened to
the opposite side to get clear of the burning wood, instead of
penetrating through it as Ali had done. The ground became so stony and
rugged, that he could no longer ride on his camel. He tied it to a
tree, and endeavoured to make his way on foot through the thick bushes,
in order to reach a high tree, on which he might pass the night without
fear of serpents and wild beasts. As he proceeded, he fell into a
dark, damp, deep pit, where he lay for some time senseless. When he
recovered, he had only a faint recollection of the causes of his
present situation; he had quite forgotten Hussain's and Gulhyndi's
death, and fanc