Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 2.djvu/65

Joy I conceived for having eſcaped the Danger of the Seas. Notwithſtanding, I recommended my ſelf to God, and pray’d him to diſpoſe of me according to his good Will and Pleaſure; at the ſame time I ſaw a Veſſel coming from the main Land, before the Wind, directly to the Iſland. I doubted not but they were coming to anchor there, and being uncertain what ſort of People they might be, whether Friends or Foes, I thought it not ſafe for me to be ſeen, I got up into a very thick Tree, from whence I might ſafely view them. The Veſſel came into a little Creek, where ten Slaves landed, carrying a Spade and other Inſtruments fit for digging up the Ground; they went towards the middle of the Iſland, where I ſaw them ſtop and dig the Ground a long while, after which I thought I ſaw them lift up a Trap-Door. They returned again to the Veſſel and unladed ſeveral forts of Proviſion and Furniture, which they carried to that Place where they had broke Ground, and ſo went downward, which made me ſuppoſe it was a ſubterranean Being.

I ſaw them once more go to the Ship, and return ſoon after with an old Man, who led a very handſome young Lad in his Hand of about 14 or 15 Years of age; they all went down at the Trap-Door. And being come up aga’n, having let down the Trap-Door and cover’d it over with Earth, they return’d to the Creek where the Ship lay, but I ſaw not the young Man in their Company: this made me believe that he ſtay’d behind in that Place under-ground, at which I could not but be extreamly aſtoniſhed.

The old Man and the Slaves went aboard again, and the Veſſel having got under ſail ſteer’d its Courſe towards the main Land, When I perceiv’d they were at ſuch diſtance that they could not ſee me. I came down from the Tree, and went directly to the Place where I had ſeen the Ground broke; I removed the Earth by degrees, till I found a Stone that was two or three Foot ſquare. I lifted it up and ſaw it cover’d the Head of the Stair, which was alſo of Stone, I went down and came into a large Room, where there was laid a Foot-Carpet, and a Couch cover’d with Tapiſtry, and Cuſhions of rich Stuff, upon which the young Man ſat with a Fan in his Hand. I ſaw all this by the Light of two Tapers, together with the Fruits and Flower-Pots he had ſtanding about him, The young Lad was ſtartled