APPENDIX 277

forth a fire from heaven, and it almost burnt them.
They therefore all descended, and, having cast me upon
a lofty mountain, departed in the utmost rage against
me, and they went and left me. Thus I became alone
upon that mountain, and I blamed myself for that which
I had done, and said, “There is no strength nor power
but in God, the High, the Great! Verily, every time
that I escape from a calamity I fall into a calamity that
is mightier than the former one!”

I remained upon that mountain, and knew not
whither to go, when, lo, two young men passed along,
like two moons, each having in his hand a rod of gold,
on which he leaned. I advanced to them, and saluted
them, and they returned my salutation; and I said to
them, “I conjure you by Allah to tell me who ye are
and what is your business.” And they answered me,
“We are of the servants of God, whose name be exalted!”
Then they gave me a rod of red gold that they had with:
them, and went their way and left me. And I pro-
ceeded along the top of that mountain, leaning upon the
rod, and reflecting upon the case of these two young
men, and, lo, a serpent came forth from beneath the
mountain, having in its mouth a man whom it had
swallowed to his middle, and he was crying out and
saying, “ Whosoever will deliver me, God will deliver
him from every difficulty!” I therefore advanced to that
serpent, and struck it with the rod of gold on its head,
whereat it threw the man from its mouth. And upon
this the man came to me and said, “Since my deliver-
ance from this serpent hath been effected by thy means,
I will not henceforth quit thee: thou hast become my