第73章 KEMEREZZEMAN AND BUDOUR.(35)

Meanwhile，Amjed and Asaad fared on into the desert a whole months journey，eating of the fruits of the earth and drinking of the rain-pools，till their travel brought them to a mountain of black stone，where the road divided in two，one skirting the foot of the mountain and the other leading to its summit.They took the former way，for fear of thirst，and followed it five days，but saw no end to it and were overcome with weariness，being unused to walking in mountains or elsewhere.At last，despairing of coming to the end of the road，they retraced their steps and taking the other，that led over the mountain，followed it all that day，till nightfall，when Asaad，weary with much travel，said to Amjed，O my brother，I can go no farther，for I am exceeding weak.'Courage，'replied Amjed；may be God will send us relief.'So they walked on part of the night，till the darkness closed in upon them，when Asaad became beyond measure weary and saying，O my brother，I am worn out and spent with walking，'threw himself on the ground and wept.Amjed took him in his arms and fared on with him，halting bytimes to rest，till break of day，when they came to the mountain-top and found there a stream of running water and by it a pomegranate-tree and a prayer-niche.They could hardly believe their eyes，but，sitting down by the spring，drank of its water and ate of the fruit of the tree；after which they lay down and slept till sunrise，when they washed in the spring and eating of the pomegranates，slept again till the time of afternoon-prayer.Then they thought to continue their journey，but Asaad could not walk，for his feet were swollen.So they abode there three days，till they were rested，after which they set out again and fared on over the mountain days and nights，well-nigh perished for thirst，till they came in sight of a city afar off，at which they rejoiced and made towards it.When they drew near it，they thanked God the Most High and Amjed said to Asaad，O my brother，sit here，whilst I go to yonder city and see what and whose it is and where we are in Gods wide world，that we may know through what lands we have passed in crossing this mountain，whose skirts if we had followed，we had not reached this city in a whole year： so praised be God for safety！'By Allah，'replied Asaad，none shall go but myself，and may I be thy ransom！If thou leave me，I shall imagine a thousand things and suffer tortures of anxiety on thine account，for I cannot brook thine absence from me.'Go then，'rejoined Amjed，and do not tarry.'So Asaad took money and leaving his brother awaiting him，descended the mountain and fared on，till he entered the city.As he passed through the streets，he met an old man，with a beard that flowed down upon his breast and was parted in twain；he bore a walking-staff in his hand and was richly clad，with a great red turban on his head.When Asaad saw him，he wondered at his mien and habit；

nevertheless，he went up to him and saluting him，enquired the way to the market.The old man smiled in his face and said，O my son，meseems thou art a stranger？Yes，'answered Asaad；I am a stranger.'O my son，'rejoined the other，verily，thou gladdenest our country with thy presence and makest thine own land desolate by reason of thine absence.What wantest thou of the market？O uncle，'replied Asaad，I have an elder brother，with whom I have journeyed these three months，for we come from a far country.When we sighted this city，I left my brother in the mountain and came hither，purposing to buy food and what else and return therewith to him，that we might feed thereon.'Rejoice in all good，O my son！' said the old man.'Know that to-day I give a marriage-feast，to which I have bidden many guests，and I have made ready great plenty of the best and most delicious meats that the heart can desire.So，if thou wilt come home with me，I will give thee freely all thou lackest，without price.Moreover，I will teach thee the ways of the city；and praised be God，O my son，that thou hast fallen in with me and none other！'As thou wilt，'answered Asaad；but make haste，for my brother awaits me and his whole heart is with me.'So the old man took Asaad by the hand，smiling in his face and saying，Glory be to Him who hath delivered thee from the people of this city！'Then he carried him to a narrow lane and entering a spacious house，brought him into a saloon，wherein were forty old men，seated in a circle about a lighted fire，to which they were doing worship and prostrating themselves.When Asaad saw this he was confounded and his flesh quaked，though he knew not what they were；and the old man said to them，O elders of the fire，how blessed is this day！'Then he cried out，saying，Ho，Ghezban！'

Whereupon there came out to him a tall black slave of forbidding aspect，grim-visaged and flat-nosed.The old man made a sign to him，and he bound Asaad straitly；after which the old man said to him，Bear him to the dungeon under the earth and bid my slave-girl Kewam torture him day and night and give him a cake of bread to eat morning and evening，against the time come of the voyage to the Blue Sea and the Mountain of Fire，when we will slaughter him on the mountain as a sacrifice.'So the black carried him out at another door and raising a flag in the floor，discovered a flight of twenty steps leading to a chamber under the earth，into which he descended with him and laying his feet in irons，committed him to the slave-girl and went away.