Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 3.djvu/41

the Current runs them aſhore, where they are broke in pieces, as Ours was and that which compleats the Misfortune, is that there’s no Poſſibility to get to the top of the Mountain, or to get out any manner of way.

We continu’d upon-the Shore, like Men out of their Senſes, and expected Death every Day. Ar firſt we divided our Proviſions as equally as we could, and ſo every one liv’d a longer or ſhorter while, according to their Temper, and the uſe they made of their Proviſions.

Scheherazade, perceiving Day, left off ſpeaking, but next Night ſhe reſum’d the Story as follows.

THOSE who died firſt, continu’d Sindbad, were interr’d by the reſt, and as for my part, I paid the laſt Duty to all my Companions, nor are you to wonder at this; for, beſides that I husbanded the Proviſions, that fell to my ſhare better than they: I had Proviſions of my own, which I did not ſhare with my Comrades, yet when I buried the laſt, I had fo little remaining, that I thought I could not hold out long. So that I’ digg’d a Grave, reſolving to lie down in it, becauſe there was none left alive to interr me. I muſt confeſs to you at the ſame time, that while I was thus imploy’d, I could not but reflect upon my ſelf as the Cauſe of my own Ruin, and repented that I ever had undertaken this laſt Voyage. Nor did I ſtop at Reflections only, but had well nigh haſten’d my own Death, and began to tear my Hands with my Teeth.

Bur it pleas’d God once more to take Compaſſion on me, and put it in my Mind to go to the Bank of the River which runs unto the great Cave, where conſidering the River with great Attention, I ſaid to my ſelf, This River which runs thus underground, muſt come out ſome where or other. If I make a Float, and leave my ſelf to the Carrent, it will bring me to ſome inhabited Country, or drown me. If I be drown’d, I loſe nothing, but only change one kind of Death ſor another; and if I get out of this fatal Place, I ſhall not only avoid the ſad Fate of my Comrades, but perhaps find ſome new Occaſion of enriching my ſelf. Who knows but Fortune waits, upon-my getting off this dangerons Shelve, to compenſate my Shipwreck with Uſury.