day to devour."

"It is an addition to my joy," answered the young prince, "to understand
that my victory will save the lives of those unfortunate beings. Come
with me, madam, to partake in the satisfaction of giving them their
liberty." Having so said, they advanced toward the door of the dungeon,
where Codadad, pitying them, and impatient to put an end to their
sufferings, presently put one of the keys into the lock. The noise made
all the unfortunate captives, who concluded it was the black coming,
according to custom, to seize one of them to devour, redouble their
cries and groans.

In the meantime, the prince had opened the door; he went down a steep
staircase into a deep vault, which received some feeble light from a
little window, and in which there were above a hundred persons, bound to
stakes. "Unfortunate travellers," said he to them, "who only expected
the moment of an approaching death, give thanks to Heaven which has this
day delivered you by my means. I have slain the black by whom you were
to be devoured, and am come to knock off your chains." The prisoners
hearing these words, gave a shout of mingled joy and surprise. Codadad
and the lady began to unbind them; and as soon as any of them were
loose, they helped to take off the fetters from the rest; so that in a
short time they were all at liberty.

They then kneeled down, and having returned thanks to Codadad for what
he had done for them, went out of the dungeon; but when they were come
into the court, how was the prince surprised to see among the prisoners
those he was in search of, and almost without hopes to find! "Princes,"
cried he, "is it you whom I behold? May I flatter myself that it is in
my power to restore you to the sultan your father, who is inconsolable
for the loss of you? Are you all here alive? Alas! the death of one of
you will suffice to damp the joy I feel for having delivered you."

The forty-nine princes all made themselves known to Codadad, who
embraced them one after another, and told them how uneasy their father
was on account of their absence. They gave their deliverer all the
commendations he deserved, as did the other prisoners, who could not
find words expressive enough to declare their gratitude. Codadad, with
them, searched the whole castle, where was immense wealth: curious
silks, gold brocades, Persian carpets, China satins, and an infinite
quantity of other goods, which the black had taken from the caravans he
had