Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 3.djvu/20

he grop’d for the Gate, and went out howling dreadfuily, Scheherazade ſtop’d here, but next Night reſum’d her Stoyy thus:

WE went out of the Palace after the Giant, continues Sindbad, and came to the Shore, where we had left our Flats, and put ’em immediately into the Sea. We waited till Day in order to get upon them in caſe the Giant came towards us with any Guide of his own Species, but we hop’d if he did not appear by Sun-riſing, and gave over his Howling, which we ſtill heard, that he would die, and if that happen’d to be the Caſe, we reſolv’d to ſtay in that Iſland, and not to risk our Lives upon the Floats; but Day had ſcarceappear’d till we perceiv’d our cruel Enemy, accompany’d with two others almoſt of the ſame ſize leading him; and a great Number more coming before him with a very quick pace.

When we aw this, we made no Delay, but got immediately upon our Floats, and row’d off from the Shore. The Giants, who perceiv’d this, took up great Stones, and, running to the Shore, enter’d the Water up to the Middle, and threw ſo exactly, that they ſunk all the Floats but that I was upon, and all my Comrades, except the Two with me, were drown’d, We row’d with all our Might, and got out of the reach of the Giants. But when we got out to Sea, we were expos’d to the Mercy of the Waves and Winds, and toſs’d about ſometimes on one ſide, and ſometimes on another, and ſpent that Night and the following Day under a cruel Uncertainty, as to our Fate; but next Morning we had the good Luck to be thrown upon an Iſland, where we landed with much Joy. We found excellent Fruit there, that gave us great Relief, ſo that we pretty well recover’d our Strength.

In the Evening we fell aſleep on the Bank of the Sea, but were awak’d by the Noiſe of a Serpent as long as a Palm Tree, whoſe Scales made a ruſling as he crept along. He ſwallow’d up one of my Comrades, notwithſtanding his loud Cries, and the Efforts he made to rid himſelf from the Serpent, which, ſhaking him ſeveral times againſt the Ground, cruſh’d hjm, and we could hear him gnaw and