atima, and it was
to me thou gavest thy note, and the preserving-drink."

My brother entreated her to give him intelligence of his sister and
Zoraida, and learned that they were both in the castle, but, according
to Thiuli's custom, had received different names; they were now
called Mirza and Nurmahal. When Fatima, the rescued slave, saw that my
brother was so cast down by this failure of his enterprise, she bade
him take courage, and promised to show him means whereby he could
still deliver both the maidens. Aroused by this thought, Mustapha was
filled with new hope, and besought her to point out to him the way.

"Only five months," said she, "have I been Thiuli's slave;
nevertheless, from the first, I have been continually meditating an
escape; but for myself alone it was too difficult. In the inner court
of the castle, you may have observed a fountain, which pours forth
water from ten tubes; this fountain riveted my attention. I remembered
in my father's house to have seen a similar one, the water of which
was led up through a spacious aqueduct. In order to learn whether this
fountain was constructed in the same manner, I one day praised its
magnificence to Thiuli, and inquired after its architect. 'I myself
built it,' answered he, 'and what thou seest here is still the
smallest part; for the water comes hither into it from a brook at
least a thousand paces off, flowing through a vaulted aqueduct, which
is as high as a man. And all this have I myself planned.' After
hearing this, I often wished only for a moment to have a man's
strength, in order to roll away the stone from the side of the
fountain; then could I have fled whither I would. The aqueduct now
will I show to you; through it you can enter the castle by night, and
set them free. Only you must have at least two men with you, in order
to overpower the slaves which, by night, guard the seraglio."

Thus she spoke, and my brother Mustapha, although twice disappointed
already in his expectations, once again took courage, and hoped with
Allah's assistance to carry out the plan of the slave. He promised to
conduct her in safety to her native land, if she would assist him in
entering the castle. But one thought still troubled him, namely, where
he could find two or three faithful assistants. Thereupon the dagger
of Orbasan occurred to him, and the promise of the robber to hasten to
his assistance, when he should stand in need of help, and he therefore
started wit