s his kindness towards me. He listened
to the tale of my adventures with interest, and when I begged to be
allowed to return home, he ordered that a ship should be made ready at
once. Then he wrote a letter with his own hand to the Caliph, our
sovereign lord, and loaded me with costly gifts.

"Thus, when I arrived at Bagdad, I went at once to the court of the
Caliph, and presented the letter and the gift which the King had sent.

"This gift was a cup made out of a single ruby lined inside with
precious stones, also a skin of the serpent that swallows elephants,
which had spots upon its back like pieces of gold, and which could
cure all illnesses.

"The Caliph was delighted with the letter and the gift.

"'Tell me, O Sindbad,' he said, 'is this King as great and rich as it
is reported of him?'

"'O my Lord,' I said, 'no words can give you an idea of his riches.
His throne is set upon a huge elephant and a thousand horsemen ride
around him, clad in cloth of gold. His mace is of gold studded with
emeralds, and indeed his splendor is as great as that of King
Solomon.'

"The Caliph listened attentively to my words, and then, giving me a
present, he allowed me to depart. I returned home swiftly to my family
and friends, and when I had sold my treasures and given much to the
poor, I lived in such peace and happiness that my evil adventures soon
seemed like a far-off dream."

So Sindbad finished the story, and bade his guests return the next
evening as usual. And next day, when all the guests were once more
seated at the table and had finished their feasting, Sindbad began the
story of his last voyage.

"I had now made up my mind that nothing would tempt me to leave my
home again, and that I would seek for no more adventures.

"One day, however, as I was feasting with my friends, one of my
servants came to tell me that a messenger from the Caliph awaited my
pleasure.

"'What is thy errand?' I asked when the messenger was presented to me.

"'The Caliph desires thy presence at once,' answered the messenger.

"Thus was I obliged to set out immediately for the palace.

"'Sindbad,' said the Caliph, when I had bowed myself to the ground
before him, 'I have need of thy services. I desire to send a letter
and a gift to the King of Serendib, and thou shalt be the bearer of
them.'

"Then indeed did my face fall, and I became pale as death.

"'Commander of the Faithful,' I cried, 'do with me as thou wilt, but I
have ma