in this place without any resistance."

The young man, much assured at these words, with a smiling countenance
requested me to seat myself by him. As soon as I was seated he said:
"Prince, my story will surprise you. My father is a jeweler. He has
many slaves, and also agents at the several courts, which he furnishes
with precious stones. He had been long married without having issue
when he dreamed that he should have a son, though his life would be
but short. Some time after, I was born, which occasioned great joy in
the family. My father, who had observed the very moment of my birth,
consulted astrologers about my nativity, and was answered, 'Your son
shall live happily till the age of fifteen, when his life will be
exposed to a danger which he will hardly be able to escape. But if his
good destiny preserve him beyond that time, he will live to a great
age. It will be,' said they, 'when the statue of brass, that stands
upon the summit of the mountain of adamant, shall be thrown into the
sea by Prince Agib, and, as the stars prognosticate, your son will be
killed fifty days afterward by that prince.'

"My father took all imaginable care of my education until this year,
which is the fifteenth of my age. He had notice given him yesterday
that the statue of brass had been thrown into the sea about ten days
ago. This news alarmed him much; and, in consequence of the prediction
of the astrologers, he took the precaution to form this subterranean
habitation to hide me in during the fifty days after the throwing down
of the statue; and therefore, as it is ten days since this happened,
he came hastily hither to conceal me, and promised at the end of forty
days to return and fetch me away. For my own part, I am sanguine in my
hopes, and cannot believe that Prince Agib will seek for me in a place
under ground, in the midst of a desert island."

He had scarcely done speaking when I said to him, with great joy:
"Dear sir, trust in the goodness of God, and fear nothing. I will not
leave you till the forty days have expired, of which the foolish
astrologers have made you apprehensive; and in the meanwhile I will do
you all the service in my power; after which, with leave of your
father and yourself, I shall have the benefit of getting to the
mainland in your vessel; and when I am returned into my kingdom, I
will remember the obligations I owe you, and endeavor to demonstrate
my gratitude by suitable acknowledgments."

This disc