Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 3.djvu/6

in the Sloop, and taken up ſome of thoſe that ſwam: reſolv’s to improve the favourable Gale that was juſt riſen, and hoiſting his Sails purſued his Voyage, ſo that it was impoſſible to recover the Ship.

Thus I was expos’d to the Mercy of the Waves and ſtruggled for my Life, all the reſt of the Day and the following Night. Next Morning I found my Strength gone, and deſpair’d of ſaving my Life, when a Wave threw me happily againſt an Iſland: The Bank was high and rugged, ſo that I could ſcarcely have got up had it not been for ſome Roots of Trees, which Fortune ſeem’d to have preſerv’d in this Place for my Safety. Being got up, I lay down upon the Ground half dead, until ſuch Time as the Sun appeared. Then, tho’ I was very feeble, both by reaſon of my hard Labour and want of Victuals, I creep’d along to ſee for ſome Herbs fit to eat, and had not only the good Luck to find ſome but likewiſe a Spring of excellent Water, which contributed much to recover me. After this I advanc’d further into the Iſland, and came at laſt into a fine Plain, where I perceived a Horſe feeding at a great Diſtance, I went towards him betwixt Hopes and Fear, not knowing whether I was going to loſe my Life or to ſave it. When I came near, I perceived it to be a very fine Mare, tied to a Stake. Whilſt I looked upon her, I heard the Voice of a Man from under Ground, who immediately appeared to me, and ask’d who I was? I gave him an Account of my Adventure, after which, taking me by the Hand, he led me into a Cave, where there were ſeveral other People, no leſs amaz’d to ſee me, than I was to ſee them.

I eat ſome Victuals which they offer’d me, and then having ask’d them what they did in ſuch a deſart Place? they anſwer’d; That they were Grooms, belonging to King Mihrage, Sovereign of the Iſland; and that every Year at the ſame Seaſon, they brought thither the King’s Mares, and faſten’d them as I ſaw that Mare, until they were cover’d by a Horſe that came out of the Sea, who, after he had done ſo, endeavour’d to deſtroy the Mares, but they hinder’d him by their Noiſe, and oblig’d him to return to the Sea; after which-they carry’d home the Mares, whoſe Foals were kept for the King’s Uſe, and called Sea-Horſes. They added, that they were to go home to