ire begun to burn, when we heard loud shouts
from the ship warning us to come back at once, for what we had taken
to be an island was indeed the back of a sleeping whale. My companions
all rushed to the boats, but before I could follow them the great
monster dived down and disappeared, leaving me struggling in the
water.

"I clung to a piece of wood which we had brought from the ship to make
the fire, and I could only hope that I would soon be picked up by my
companions. But alas! there was so much confusion on board that no one
missed me, and as a wind sprang up the captain set sail, and I was
left alone at the mercy of the waves.

"All night long I floated, and when morning came I was so tired and
weak that I thought I must die. But just then a great wave lifted me
up and threw me against the steep side of an island, and to my joy I
managed to climb the cliff and rest on the green grass above.

"Soon I began to feel better, and as I was very hungry I went to look
for something to eat. I found some plants which tasted good, and a
spring of clear water, and having made a good meal, I walked about the
island to see what I would find next.

"Before long I came to a great meadow where a horse was tied, and as I
stood looking at it, I heard men's voices which sounded as if they
came from under the earth. Then from an underground cave a man
appeared, who asked me who I was and where I came from. He took me
into the cave where his companions were, and they told me they were
the grooms belonging to the King of the island, whose horses they
brought to feed in the meadow. They gave me a good meal, and told me
it was very lucky that I had come just then, for next day, they meant
to return to their master, and would show me the way, which I could
never have found for myself.

"So we set off together early next morning, and when we reached the
city I was very kindly received by the King. He listened to the story
of my adventures, and then bade his servants see that I wanted for
nothing.

"As I was a merchant I took great interest in the shipping, and often
went down to the quay to see the boats unload. One day when I was
looking over a cargo which had just been landed, what was my
astonishment to see a number of bales with my own name marked on them.
I went at once to the captain and asked him who was the owner of these
bales of goods.

"'Ah!' replied the captain, 'they belonged to a merchant of Bagdad
called Sindbad. But