ed him the knife, "or
I will throw you a hundred fathoms deep into the abyss, among serpents
and adders!"

"Throw me," cried Ibrahim, with firmness, clasping his hands, and
raising his eyes to the stars.

"You have regained courage," said Lockman, scoffing.

"Misfortune inspires that," replied Ibrahim.

"Daring man," cried Lockman, "you are not yet ripe, I will chastise you
slowly." So saying he left him.

"Poor Hussain!" sighed Ibrahim as he looked on the pale man. Hussain
opened his eyes, gave a friendly smile, and extended his hand to him,
saying,

"I heard what passed between you and the sorcerer; whose wicked design
has ill succeeded. What was to separate us has united us. I now know
you; can you forgive me?"

Ibrahim embracing him said, "Will you again be my friend?"

"For life and death," said Hussain, returning the embrace of his former
enemy. They knelt down, and Mahommed's holy moon shone on their
reconciliation, which was sealed by a kiss, as she cast her pale gleam
over the desert, and the faint reflection from the sand was increased,
as if rejoicing that from the desert of affliction a flower had sprung,
which the Eden of a life of luxury could not produce.

Lockman returned, looked at the reconciled friends, and burst into a
hideous laugh. "I suppose you now fancy yourselves happy, and that you
have gained peace of mind," he said; "do not think it. Hussain is lost
for ever. Allah has turned his eyes from him for endeavouring to
shorten the days of his child and his own. He is mine for ever!"

"None possesses that eternal power but Allah," cried Hussain, who had
now recovered. "Having saved my life, you have, against your will,
assisted my salvation. As long as there is life there is hope; as long
as man lives he may become better."

"You have killed your daughter," said Lockman; "you have spilled her
blood, you are an infanticide!"

Hussain turned pale.

"She lives," cried a sweet voice from on high, "take courage and hope."

"Ah! is _she_ released from her sleep of death?" exclaimed Lockman in
consternation, and vanished.

From this time Ibrahim and Hussain were faithful friends, they shared
their troubles, and found consolation in each other's society. It was
no longer difficult to discover gold and precious stones in the desert;
they had only to go out and search, and immediately found what they
wished. During this time the sun was shaded, and a light breeze was
blowing;