THE PRANSMIGRATIONS OF INDUR. 115

with his companions. Soon an alarm was given of the
approach of an enemy; and they all set off with the
swittness of the wind to the neighbouring immense
plaims, where they were presently out of the reach of
mjury. Indur was highly delighted with the ease and
rapidity of his motions; and snufling the keen air of
the desert, bounded away, scarcely deigning to touch
the ground with his feet. This way of life went on
very pleasantly for some time, till at length the herd
was one morning alarmed with noises of trumpets,
drums, and loud shouts, on every side. They started,
and ran first to the right, then to the left, but were
continually driven back by the surrounding crowd,
which now appeared to be a whole army of hunters,
with the king of the country and all his nobles, as-
sembled on a solemn chase, after the manner of the
eastern people. And now the circle began to close,
and numbers of affrighted animals of various kinds
thronged together in the centre, keeping as far as pos-
sible from the dangers that approached them from all
quarters. ‘The huntsmen had now come near enough
to reach their game with their arrows; and the prince
and his lords shot at them as they passed and repassed,
killing and wounding great numbers. Indur and his
surviving companions, seeing no other means of escape,
resolved to make a bold push towards that part of the
ring which was the most weakly guarded; and though
many perished in the attempt, yet a few, leaping over
the heads of the people, got clear away, and Indur
was among the number. But whilst he was scouring
over the plain, rejoicing in his good fortune and con-
duct, an enemy swifter than himself overtook him.
This was a falcon, who, let loose by one of the hunts-
men, dashed like lightning after the fugitives; and
alighting upon the head of Indur, began to tear his
eyes with his beak, and flap his wings over his face.
Indur, terrified and blinded, knew not which way he
went; and, instead of proceeding straight forwards,
turned round, and came again towards the hunters.
T@