Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 3.djvu/32

came thro’ a Hole in the Rock, large enough for a Man to get out at.

Upon this, I ſop’d ſometime to reſt my ſelf, being much ſatigu’d with purſuing this Diſcovery ſo ſaſt: Afterwards coming up to the Hole, I went out at it, and found my ſelf upon the Bank of the Sea. T leave you to gueſs at the Exceſs of my Joy, it was ſuch that I could ſcarce perſuade my ſelf its being real.

But when I was recover’d from my Surprize, and convinc’d of the Truth of the Matter, I found the Thing which I had follow’d,and heard it puff and blow, to be a Creature which came out of the Sea, and was accuſtomed to enter at that Hole to feed upon the dead Carcaſſes.

I confiderdthe Mountain, and perceiv’d it to be ſituated betwixt the Sea and the Town, but without any Paſſage or Way to communicate with the latter, the Rocks, on the fide of the Sea, were ſo rugged and ſteep. I fell down upon the Shore to thank God for his Mercy, and afterwards entered the Cave again to fetch Bread and Water, which I did eat by Day-light, with a better Appetite than I had done ſince my interment in the dark Hole,

I return’d thither again, and grop’d about among the Biers for all the Diamonds, Rubies, Pearls, Gold Bracelets, and rich Stuffs I could find; theſe I brought to the Shore, and tying them up neatly into Bales, with the Cords that let down the Coffins, I laid them together upon the Bank, waiting till ſome Ship paſſed by, without any Fear of Rain for it was not then the Seaſon.

After two or three Days I perceived a Ship that had but juſt come out of the Harbour, and paſſed near the Place where I was. I made a Sign with the Linnen of my Turban, and call’d to them as loud as I could: They heard me, and ſent a Sloop to bring me on board. When the Mariners asked by what Misfortune I came thither? I told them that I ſuffer’d Ship-wrack two Days ago, and made ſhift to get aſhore with the Goods they ſaw. It was happy for me that thoſe People did not conſider the Place where I was, nor enquire into the Probability of what I told them, but, without any more ado, took me on board with my Goods. When I came to the Ship, the Captain was ſo well pleas’d to have ſav’d me, and ſo much taken up with his own Aſairs, that he alſo took the Story of my pretended