, and ordered that another hundred gold pieces
should be given to Hindbad, and that he should depart. But next
evening when the guests had all assembled and Hindbad had also
returned, Sindbad began once more to tell them a story of his
adventures.

"This time," began Sindbad, "I stayed at home for the space of a whole
year, and then I prepared to set out on another voyage. My friends and
relations did all in their power to prevent my going, but I could not
be persuaded, and before long I set sail in a ship which was about to
make a very long voyage.

"Nothing went well with us from the beginning. We were driven out of
our course by storms and tempests, and the captain and pilot knew not
where we were. When at last they found out in which direction we had
drifted, things seemed in a worse state than ever. We were alarmed to
see the captain suddenly pull off his turban, tear the hair from his
beard, and beat his head as if he were mad.

"'What is the matter?' we asked, gathering round him.

"'Alas!' he cried, 'we are lost. The ship is now caught in a dangerous
current from which nothing can save her and us. In a very few moments
we shall all be dashed to pieces.'

"No sooner had he spoken than the ship was carried along at a
tremendous speed straight on to a rocky shore which lay at the foot of
a steep mountain.

"But although the ship was dashed to pieces, we all managed to escape,
and were thrown with our goods and some provisions high on to the
rocky strip of shore. Here we found the scattered remains of many
wrecks, and quantities of bones bleached white in the sun.

"'We may prepare ourselves for death,' said the captain mournfully.
'No man has ever escaped from this shore, for it is impossible to
climb the mountain behind us, and no ship dare approach to save us.'

"But nevertheless he divided the provisions among us, that we might
live as long as possible.

"One thing that surprised me greatly was a river of fresh water which
flowed out of the mountain, and, instead of running into the sea,
disappeared into a rocky cavern on the other side of the shore. As I
gazed into the mouth of this cavern I saw that it was lined with
sparkling gems, and that the bed of the river was studded with rubies
and diamonds and all manner of precious stones. Great quantities of
these were also scattered around, and treasures from the wrecked ships
lay in every corner of the shore.

"One by one my companions died as they ca