Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 2.djvu/64

This was the Contents of the old Man’s Diſcourſe. When I awak’d I was very much comforted by this Viſion and did not fail to obſerve every thing that he had commanded me. I took the Bow and Arrows out of the Ground, ſhot ’em at the Horſeman, and with the third Arrow I overthrew him, and he fell into the Sea, as the Horſe fell by my ſide, which I buried in the Place whence took the Bow and Arrows; and in the mean time the Sea ſwell and roſe up by Degrees: When it came as high as the Foot of the Dome that ſtood upon the Top of the Mountain, ſaw afar off a Boat rowing towards me, and I return’d God thanks that every thing ſucceeded according to my Dream.

At laſt the Boat came aſhore, and I ſaw the Man was made of Metal. According as I had dreamt, I ſtept aboard, and took great heed not to pronounce the Name of God, neither ſpoke I one Word at all; I ſat down, and the Man of Metal began to row off from the Mountain: He row’d without ceaſing till the ninth Day, that I ſaw ſome Iſlands, which put me in hopes that I ſhould be out of all the Danger that I was afraid of. The Exceſs of my Joy made me forget what I was forbidden todo: God’s Name be bleſt, ſaid I, The Lord be praiſed.

I had no ſooner ſpoke thoſe Words, but the Boat ſunk with the Man of Metal, and leaving me upon the Surface, I ſwam the remaining part of the Day towards that Land which appeared neareſt to me. A very dark Night ſucceeded, and not knowing where-abouts I was, I ſwam a a venture; my Strength began at laſt to fail, and I deſpaired of being able to ſave my ſelf; when the Wind began to blow hard, and a Wave as big as a Mountain threw me on a Flat, where it left me, and drew back. I made haſte to get aſhore, fearing another Wave might waſh me back again: The firſt thing I did was to ſtrip and wring the Water out of my Cloaths, and then laid them down to dry on the Sand, which was ſtill pretty warm by the Heat of the Day.

Next Morning the Sun dried my Cloaths betimes, I put them on, and went forward to ſee where-abouts I. was; I had not walked very far, till I found I was got upon a little deſart Iſland, though very pleaſant, where there grew ſeveral ſorts of Trees and wild Fruits; but perceived it was very far from the Continent, which much diminiſhed the