Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 3.djvu/34

my Goods, but not having enough to load her, I took on board me ſeveral Merchants of different Nations with their Merchandize.

We ſail’d with the firſt fair Wind, and after a long Navigation, the firſt Place we touch’d at was a deſart Iſland, where we found an Egg of a Roc, equal in Bigneſs with that I formerly mention’d. There was a young Roc, in it juſt ready to be hatch’d, and the Bill of it began to appear.

At theſe words Schehernzade ſtop’d, becauſe Day began to enter the Sultan’s Apartment, but next Night ſhe reſum’d her Story thus.

SIndbad the Sailor ſays ſhe, continu’d the Relation of his Fifth Voyage as follows. The Merchants, whom I had taken on board my Ship, who had landed with me, broke the Egg with Hatchets, and made a Hole in it, from whence they pull’d out the young Roc Piece after Piece, and roaſted it. I had earneſtly diſſwaded them from meddiing with the Egg but they would not liſten to me.

Scarce had they made an end of their Treat, when there appear’d in the Air at a conſiderable diſtance from us, two great Clouds. The Captain, whom I hir’d to ſail my Ship, knowing by Experience what it meant, cry’d that it was the He and She Roc, that belong’d to the young One, and preſs’d us to re-imbark with all ſpeed, to prevent the Misfortune which he ſaw would otherwiſe befal us. We made haſte to do ſo, and ſet ſail with all poſſible Diligence.

In the mean time the two Rocs approach’d with a frightful Noiſe, which they redoubled when they ſaw the Egg broke, and their young One gone. But having a mind to avenge themſelyes,they flew back towards the Place from whence they came, and diſappear’d for ſome time, while we made all the Sail we could, to prevent that which unhappily befel us.

They return’d, and we obſerv’d that each of ’em carry’d betwixt their Talons, Stones, or rather Rocks of a monſtrous ſize. When they came directly over my Ship, they hover’d, and one of ’em let fall a Stone, but by the Dexterity of the Steerſman, who turn’d the Ship with the Rudder,