Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 3.djvu/14

SIR, ſays ſhe to the Sultan, Sinbad continued the Story of the Adventures of his ſecond Voyage thus: I began to gather together the greateſt Diamonds that I could ſee, and put them into the Leather Bag where I uſed to carry my Proviſions. I afterwards took the largeſt Piece of Meat I could find, tied it cloſe round me with the Cloth of my Turban, and then laid my ſelf upon the Ground with my Face downward, the Bag of Diamonds being tied faſt to my Girdle, that it cou’d not poſſibly drop off.

I had ſcarce laid me down, till the Eagles came, each of ’em ſeiz’d a Piece of Meat, and one of the ſtrongeſt having taken me up, with the Piece of Meat on my Back, carry’d me to his Neſt on the Top of the Mountain. The Merchants fell ſtraighway a ſhouting to frighten the Eagles; and when they had oblig’d them to quit their Prey, one of them came up to the Neſt where I was: He was very much afraid when he ſaw me; but recovering himſelf, inſtead of enquiring how I came thither, he began to quarrel with me, and ask’d, Why I ſtole his Goods? You will treat me, reply’d I, with more Civility, when you know me better, Don’t trouble your ſelf. I have Diamonds enough for you and me too, more than all the other Merchants together. If they have any, ’tis by Chance; but I choſe my ſelf in the Bottom of the Valley all thoſe which you ſee in this Bag; and having ſpoke thoſe Words, I ſhew’d ’em him. I had ſcarce done ſpeaking when the other Merchants came trooping about us, very much aſtoniſh’d to ſee me; but they were much more ſurpriz’d when I told them my Story: Yet they did not ſo much admire my Stratagem to ſave my ſelf, as my Courage to attempt it.

They carry’d me to the Place where they Raid altogether, and there having open’d my Bag, they were ſurpriz’d at the largeneſs of my Diamonds, and confeſs’d, Thay in all the Courts where they had been, they never ſaw any that came near them. I pray’d the Merchant, to whom the Neſt belong’d whither I was carry’d, for every Merchant had his own to take as many for his Share as he pleas’d; he contented himſelf with one, and that too the leaſt of ’em;