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my senses. But when I found myself on the ground I speedily untied the knot, and had scarcely done so when the roc, having taken up a serpent in its bill, flew away.

The spot where it left me was surrounded by mountains, that 5 seemed to reach above the clouds, and so steep that there was no chance of getting out of the valley. When I compared this place with the desert island from which the roc had brought me, I found that I had gained nothing by the change.

As I walked through this valley I saw it was strewn with 10 diamonds, some of which were of a surprising size.

I had never believed what I had heard sailors tell of the valley of diamonds, and of the tricks used by merchants to obtain jewels from that place; but now I found that they had stated nothing but the truth. For the fact is that the merchants come 15 to this valley, when the eagles have young ones, and, throwing great joints of meat into the valley, the diamonds, upon whose points they fall, stick to them; the eagles pounce upon those pieces of meat and carry them to their nests on the rocks to feed their young; the merchants at this time run to the nests, drive off 20 the eagles, and take away the diamonds that stick to the meat.

I had thought the valley must surely be my grave, but now I took courage and began to plan a way to escape.

Collecting the largest diamonds and putting them into the leather bag in which I used to carry my provisions, I took the 25 largest of the pieces of meat, tied it close around me, and then laid myself upon the ground, with my face downwards, the bag of diamonds being made fast to my girdle.

I had scarcely placed myself in this position when one of the eagles, having taken me up with the piece of meat to which I 30 was fastened, carried me to his nest on the top of the mountain.

The merchants frightened the eagles, and when they had forced them to quit their prey, one of them came to the nest where I was. He was much alarmed when he saw me; but recovering himself, instead of asking how I came thither, began to quarrel 35 with me, and asked why I stole his goods.

"You will treat me," replied I, "with more politeness when you know me better. Do not be uneasy; I have diamonds enough for you and myself, more than all the other merchants together. Whatever they have they owe to chance, but I selected for myself 5 in the bottom of the valley, those which you see in this bag."

I had scarcely done speaking when the other merchants came crowding about us, much astonished to see me, but more surprised when I told them my story.

They took me to their camp, and there, when I opened my bag, 10 they were surprised at the beauty of my diamonds, and confessed that they had never seen any of such size and perfection.

I prayed the merchant who owned the nest to which I had been carried, for every merchant had his own nest, to take as many for his share as he pleased. He, however, took only one, 15 and that, too, the least of them; and when I pressed him to take more, he said, “No, I am very well satisfied with this gem, which is valuable enough to save me the trouble of making any more voyages, and will bring as great a fortune as I desire.”

The merchants had thrown their pieces of meat into the val20 ley for several days; and each of them being satisfied with the diamonds that had fallen to his lot, we left the place and traveled near high mountains where there were serpents of great length, which we had the fortune to escape.

We took shipping at the first port we reached, and touched 25 at the isle of Roha, where the trees grow that yield camphor. I pass over many other things peculiar to this island, lest I should weary you. Here I exchanged some of my diamonds for merchandise. From here we went to other islands, and at last, having touched at several trading towns of the continent, we 30 landed at Bussorah, and from there I proceeded to Bagdad. There I gave presents to the poor, and lived honorably upon the vast riches I had brought and gained with so many hardchips.

Thus Sindbad ended the story of the second voyage, gave

Hindbad another hundred sequins, and invited him to come the next day to hear more of his adventures.

THE THIRD VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR

I soon grew weary of a life of idleness and embarked with some merchants on another long voyage. One day we were 5 overtaken by a storm, which drove us out of our course and we were obliged to cast anchor near an island. As soon as we landed, we were surrounded by savage dwarfs, who took possession of our ship and sailed away.

Left without means of escape from the island, we deter10 mined to explore it, in hope of finding food and shelter. We had not advanced far, however, when we discovered that this island was inhabited by giants, more savage than the dwarfs who first attacked us. We knew that we could not remain on the island and so we went back to the shore and planned how we might 15 escape.

When night came we made rafts, each large enough to carry three men and, as soon as it was light, we put to sea with all the speed we could. The giants saw us as we pushed out and, rushing down to the water's edge, threw great stones which 20 sunk all the rafts except the one upon which I was.

All that day and night we were tossed by the waves, but the next morning we were thrown upon an island, where we found delicious fruit which satisfied our hunger. Beautiful as this island was, we found ourselves in danger as great as 25 any we had escaped. My two companions were killed by serpents and I was almost in despair when I saw a ship in the distance. By shouting and waving my turban, I attracted the attention of the crew and a boat was sent for me.

As soon as I saw the captain, I knew him to be the man, 30 who, in my second voyage, had left me on the island. "Captain,“ said I, "I am Sindbad, whom you left on the island."

"Heaven be praised," said the captain, “I am glad that my

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careless act did not cause your death. which I always took care to preserve."

These are your goods,

We continued at sea for some time and touched at many islands, where I traded for cloves, cinnamon, and other spices. 5 At last I returned to Bagdad with so much wealth that I knew not its value. I gave a great deal to the poor and bought another estate.

Thus Sindbad finished the story of his third voyage. He gave another hundred sequins to Hindbad and invited him to 10 dinner the next day.

THE FOURTH VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR

After I had rested from the dangers of my third voyage, my love for trade and adventure again took hold of me. I provided a stock of goods and started on another voyage.

On putting out to sea, we were overtaken by a storm and 15 the ship was wrecked. I clung to a plank and was carried by the current to an island where I found fruit and spring water which saved my life. The next day I started to explore the island and seeing some huts, I went toward them. people who lived in these huts were savages and they took me 20 prisoner. I was in such fear of them that I could not eat and at last I became sick.

The

After that they did not watch me so closely and I found a chance to escape. I traveled seven days, living upon cocoanuts, which served me for food and drink. On the eighth day I met 25 some people gathering pepper and I told them my story. They treated me with great kindness and took me with them when they sailed home.

On arriving in their own country they presented me to their King, who commanded his people to take care of me, and soon 30 I was looked upon as a native rather than a stranger. I was not, however, satisfied to remain away from my own home and planned to escape and return to Bagdad.

One day I saw a ship approaching the place where I was.

I called to the crew and they quickly sent a boat and took me on board. We stopped at several islands and collected great stores of costly goods. After we had finished our traffic, we put to sea again and at last arrived at Bagdad. I gave large sums 5 to the poor and enjoyed myself with my friends in feasts and amusements.

Here Sindbad made a present of one hundred sequins to Hindbad, whom he requested to return the next day to dine with him and hear the story of his fifth voyage.

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THE FIFTH VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR

All the misfortunes I had undergone could not cure me of my desire to make new voyages. I therefore had a ship built and, taking with me several merchants, I started on my fifth voyage.

We touched at a desert island, where we found a roc's egg. 15 We could see that the young bird had begun to break the shell with his beak. The merchants, who were with me, broke the shell with hatchets and killed the young roc. Scarcely had they done this when the parent birds flew down with a frightful noise. We hurried to the ship and set sail as speedily as 20 possible. But the great birds followed us, each carrying a rock between its claws. When they came directly over our ship, they let the rocks fall and the ship was crushed and most of the passengers killed.

I caught hold of a piece of the wreck and swam to an island. 25 Here I found fruit and streams of fresh, pure water. After resting and eating some of the fruit, I determined to find out who lived upon the island.

I had not walked far when I saw an old man sitting on the bank of a stream. He made signs to me to carry him over the 30 brook, and as he seemed very weak, I took him upon my back and carried him across. When we reached the other side the old man threw his legs around my neck and squeezed my throat until I fainted. But he kept his seat and kicked me to make

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