168 THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

corsairs, who easily made themselves masters of our vessel, as we
were not in a state for defence. Some persons in the ship at-
tempted to make resistance, but it cost them their lives. I and
all those who had the prudence not to oppose the intention of
the corsairs were made slaves. After they had stripped us, and
substituted old clothes for our own, they bent their course towards
a large island at a very great distance, where they sold us.

I was purchased by a rich merchant, who conducted me to his
house, gave me food to eat, and clothed me asaslave. Some
days after, as he was not well informed who I was, he asked me
if I knew any trade. I replied that I was not an artisan, but a
merchant by profession, and that the corsairs who had sold me
had taken from me all I was possessed of. “ But tell me,” said
he, “do you think you could shoot with a bow and arrow?” I
replied that it had been one of my youthful sports, and that
I had not entirely forgotten how to use it. He then gave me
a bow and some arrows, and making me mount behind him on
an elephant, he took me to a vast forest at the distance of some
hours’ journey from the city. We went a great way in it, and
when he came to a spot where he wished to stop, he made me
alight, Then shewing me a large tree, “Get up in that tree,”
said he, “and shoot at the elephants that will pass under it, for
there is a prodigious quantity in this forest : if one should fall,
come and acquaint me of it.” Having said this, he left me some
provisions and returned to the city: I remained in the tree, on
the watch, the whole night.

I did not perceive any during that time ; but the next day, as
soon as the sun had arisen, a great number made their appear-
ance. I shot many arrows at them, and at last one fell. The
others immediately retired, and left me at liberty to go and
inform my master of the success I had met with. To reward me
for this good intelligence, he regaled me with an excellent repast,
and praised my address. We then returned together to the
forest, where we dug a pit to bury the elephant I had killed. It
was my master’s intention to let it rot in the earth, and then to
take possession of its teeth for commerce.

I continued this occupation for two months, and not a day
passed in which I did not kill an elephant. I did not always
place myself on the same tree; sometimes I ascended one,
sometimes another. One morning, when I was waiting for some