Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 3.djvu/21

near the poor Wretche’s Bones, when we had fled at a great Diſtince from him. Next Day we ſaw the Serpent again to our great Terror, when I cry’d out, O Heaven, to what Dangers are we expos’d. We rejoic’d yeſterday at our having eſcap’d from the Cruelty of a Giant, and the Rage of the Waves, and now we are fallen into Danger altogether as terrible.

As we walk’d about, we ſaw a large tall Tree, upon which we deſign’d to paſs the following Night for our Security, and, having ſatisfied our Hunger with Fruit, we mounted it accordingly. A little while after, the Serpent came hiſſing to the Root of the Tree, rais’d it ſelf up againſt the Trunk of it, and meeting with my Comrade, who ſat lower than I, ſwallow’d him at once, and went off.

I ftaid upon the Tree till it was Day, and then came : down, more like a dead Man, than one alive, expecting the ſame Fate with my Two Companions. This filed me with Horror, ſo that I was going to throw my ſelf into the Sea, but Nature prompting us to a Deſire to live as long as we can, I withſtood this Temptation to Deſpair, and ſubmitted my ſelf to the will of God, who diſpoſes of our Lives at his Pleaſure.

In the mean time I gather’d together a great Quantity of ſmall Wood, Brambles, and dry Thorns, and making them up in Faggots made a great Circle with them round the Tree;, and alſo tied ſome of them to the Branches over my Head. Having done thus, when the Evening came, I ſhut my ſelt up within this Circle, with this melancholy Piece of Satisfaction, That I had neglected nothing which could preſerve me from the cruel Deſtiny with which I was threatned. The Serpent ſailed not to come at the uſua! Hour, and went round the Tree, ſeeking for an Opportunity to devour me, but was prevented by the Rampart I had made, ſo that he ſat till Day, like a Cat watching in vain for a Mouſe that has retired to a Place of Safety. When Day appeared he retired, but I dared not to leave my Fort until the Sun roſe.

I was ſo fatigued with the Toil he had put me to, and ſuffered ſo much by his poiſonou Breath, that Death ſeeming more eligible to me, than the Horror of ſuch a Condition, I came down from the Tree, and not thinking on the Reſignation had made to the Will of God the precee-