ES-SINDIBAD OF THE SEA 75

the ground; so I lay in the midst of the pieces
of wood, which enclosed me like a closet. And
when the evening arrived, the serpent approached
as it was wont, and saw me, and drew towards
me; but it could not swallow me when I was
in that state, with the pieces of wood round me
on every side. It went round me; but could not
come at me: and I looked at it, being like a dead
man, by reason of the violence of my fear and
terror. The serpent retired from me, and re-
turned to me; and thus it ceased not to do:
every time that it desired to get at me to swallow
me, the pieces of wood tied upon me on every
side prevented it. It continued to do thus from
sunset until daybreak arrived and the light ap-
peared and the sun rose, when it went its. way,
in the utmost vexation and rage. Upon this,
therefore, I stretched forth my hands and loosed
myself from those pieces of wood, in a state like
that of the dead, through the severity of that
which I had suffered from that serpent.

I then arose, and walked along the island
until I came to the extremity of it; when I cast
a glance towards the sea, and beheld a ship at
a distance, in the midst of the deep. So I took
a great branch of a tree, and made a sign with it
to the passengers, calling out to them; and when