me to the end of their food,
and one by one I buried them, until at last I was left quite alone. I
was able to live on very little, and so my food had lasted longer.

"'Woe is me!' I cried, 'who shall bury me when I die? Why, oh! why was
I not content to remain safe and happy at home?'

"As I bemoaned my evil fate I wandered to the banks of the river, and
as I watched it disappear into the rocky cave a happy thought came to
me. Surely if this stream entered the mountain it must have an opening
somewhere, and if I could only follow its course I might yet escape.

"Eagerly I began to make a strong raft of the wood and planks which
were scattered all over the shore. Then I collected as many diamonds
and rubies and as much wrecked treasure as my raft would hold, and
took my last little store of food. I launched the raft with great
care, and soon found myself floating swiftly along until I disappeared
into the dark passage of the cavern.

"On and on I went through the thick darkness, the passage seeming to
grow smaller and narrower until I was obliged to lie flat on the raft
for fear of striking my head. My food was now all gone, and I gave
myself up for lost, and then mercifully I fell into a deep sleep which
must have lasted many hours. I was awakened by the sound of strange
voices, and jumping up, what was my joy to find I was once more in
heaven's sunshine.

"The river was flowing gently through a green, pleasant land, and the
sounds I had heard were the voices of a company of negroes who were
gently guiding my raft to the bank.

"I could not understand the language these negroes spoke, until at
last one of their number began to speak to me in Arabic.

"Peace be to thee!' he said. 'Who art thou, and whence hast thou come?
We are the people of this country, and were working in our fields when
we found thee asleep upon the raft. Tell us, then, how thou hast come
to this place.'

"I pray thee, by Allah." I cried, 'give me food, and then I will tell
thee all.'

"Then the men gave me food, and I ate until my strength returned and
my soul was refreshed, and I could tell them of all my adventures.

"'We must take him to the King,' they cried with one voice.

"Then they told me that the King of Serendib was the richest and
greatest king on earth, and I went with them willingly, taking with me
my bales and treasures.

"Never had I seen such splendor and richness as at the court of the
King of Serendib, and great wa