Page 407 of 1116

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Ajib thus

continued his tale to the lady:-When I was certified that I had

slain him, I arose and ascending the stairs replaced the trapdoor

and covered it with earth as before. Then I looked out seawards

and saw the ship cleaving the waters and making for the island,

wherefore I was afeard and said, "The moment they come and see

the youth done to death, they will know 'twas I who slew him and

will slay me without respite." So I climbed up into a high tree

and concealed myself among its leaves; and hardly had I done so

when the ship anchored and the slaves landed with the ancient

man, the youth's father, and made direct for the place and when

they removed the earth they were surprised to see it

soft.[FN#277] Then they raised the trap door and went down and

found the youth lying at full length, clothed in fair new

garments, with a face beaming after the bath, and the knife deep

in his heart.