the Talisman i sg 169

plein oe ve eA
had a prosperous voyage to the city of the idolaters, where he
arrived in the night. When he was as near to the city as he thought
convenient,-he would not cast anchor, but let the ship ride off the
shore; and going into his. boat, with six of his stoutest seamen, he
landed a little way off the port, whence he went directly to
Camaralzaman’s garden.

Though it was about midnight when he arrived there, the prince
was not asleep. His separation from the fair Princess of China
his wife afflicted him as. usual. He cursed: the minute in which
his curiosity tempted him to touch the fatal girdle.

Thus did he pass those hours which are devoted to rest, when
he heard somebody knock at the garden door. He ran hastily to it,
half-dressed as he was; but he had no sooner opened it, than the
captain and his seamen took hold of him, and carried him by: force
on board the boat, and so to the ship, and as soon as he was safely
lodged, they set sail immediately, and made the best of their way to
the Isle of Ebony.

Hitherto Camaralzaman, the captain, and his men had not said
a word to one another; at last the prince broke silence, and
asked the captain, whom he recognised, why they had taken him
away by force? The captain in his turn demanded of the prince
whether he was not a debtor of the King of Ebony?

‘I the King of Ebony’s debtor!’ replied Camaralzaman in
amazement; ‘Ido not know him, I never had anything to aC) with
him in my life, and never set foot in his kingdom.’

The captain answered, ‘You should know that better than I;
you will talk to him, yourself in a ons while: till then, stay here
and have patience.’

Though it was night when “he cast ae in the port, the
captain landed immediately, and taking Prince Camaralzaman with
him hastened to the Pe where he. demanded to be introduced
to the king. -