पृष्ठ 332 / 1116

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the second

Kalandar thus continued his tale to the lady:-But when, O my

mistress, I kicked that alcove with a mighty kick, behold, the

air starkened and darkened and thundered and lightened; the earth

trembled and quaked and the world became invisible. At once the

fumes of wine left my head: I cried to her, "What is the matter?"

and she replied, "The Ifrit is upon us! did I not warn thee of

this? By Allah, thou hast brought ruin upon me; but fly for thy

life and go up by the way thou camest down!" So I fled up the

staircase; but, in the excess of my fear, I forgot sandals and

hatchet. And when I had mounted two steps I turned to look for

them, and lo! I saw the earth cleave asunder, and there arose

from it an Ifrit, a monster of hideousness, who said to the

damsel "What trouble and pother be this wherewith thou disturbest

me?