favour with Haj Hamed, who, instead of
imitating his companions, and reclining
lazily, under the shadow of trees on the
green grass, listening to the songs of the
birds and the gurgling of the stream, began
at length to roam uneasily about.   He saw
that another sun would set, and perhaps
another, and behold them still in the lap of
the same valley. He climbed the mountains,
endeavouring to distract his thoughts,
and whenever he obtained a glimpse of
the encampment below, he gazed at it,
endeavouring to discern signs of a forward
movement. But, the tents remained unstruck;
the people reclined in groups; the camels
and horses were dispersed here and there;
and the lazy tinkling of their bells
showed that they, at any rate, were enjoying
themselves. The young merchant at length
turned away and plunged into the deep
recesses of the forest. Nature had no
charms for him. As he went, he counted
in his memory the number of pieces of cloth
his bales contained, compared the cost-price
witli the probable market-price, and revelled in
the anticipation of gigantic profits to be realised
in the paradise of his imagination—some
dusty bazaar in the far-off city of Damascus.

Whilst he was meditating on these sordid
matters, he was suddenly recalled to himself
by a surprising accident. A huge mantle
was thrown over his head; and before he had
time to struggle, he was cast on the ground,
and rolled up, like a bale of his own goods, in
complete darkness. At first, he thought that
instant death was to be his fate; and he
murmured, " May Heaven pay my debt to
the merchant Kodadad! " Soon, however,
it appeared that he was only a prisoner; and
he felt himself raised and carried along,
while smothered laughter came to his ears.
He tried to speak; but no answer was
returned, except renewed laughter.
Presently, those who carried him set him down;
the bonds that confined him were loosened,
the mantle was whisked away, and, to
his surprise, he found himself in a beautiful
garden, surrounded by a bevy of maidens,
who clapped their hands, and enjoyed his
amazed appearance.

Haj Hamed was too thoroughly an Oriental
not to understand his position, after a few
moments' thought. He had evidently been
watched during his progress through the
forest, by the inmates of some harem,
unencumbered by male attendants, who in a
spirit of fun had made him prisoner. The
incident is not an uncommon one, if we may
believe narrators; but, it generally leads to
disagreeable results. Our merchant felt
uncomfortable. These merry girls were quite
capable, he thought, after having made a
butt of him, of throwing him down a well,
or into a pond. He looked around for the
chief among them rather anxiously, and soon
recognised her in a very young maiden, who,
after having laughed with the rest, had flung
herself carelessly on a pile of cushions under
a tree, and was gazing at him with interest.

"Lady," said he, assuming a humble
attitude, " this is not wise nor well. I am a
merchant travelling with my goods that require
care and watchfulness, and beg to be released."

She seemed annoyed that her beauty, which
was great, did not amaze him; and replied—

"Fear nothing. There is no danger. This
is my father's kiosque. He has given it
to me; and I live here with my maidens
unmolested. There is a guard of slaves at
the gate; but they only appear at a signal
of danger—when I sound this shell."

She raised a conch to her lips, and a shrill
sound filled the air. The slave-girls, scarcely
understanding her motive, again cast the
mantle over Hamed, and bade him be silent
and motionless. Several men came
hurriedly; but were dismissed with jeers and
mockeries. In a few moments, the merchant,
more dead than alive, was uncovered again,
and told .to be of good cheer, for he had
permission to depart.

By this time however, beauty had begun
to exert its influence; and Haj Hamed,
instead of rising, remained gazing in
admiration at the lady of the place. She
met his glance, at first, with a disdainful
expression: but according to the Oriental
idea, two such souls have secret sympathies
from the influence of which neither can
escape. No sooner did their eyes meet in a
full gaze, than both felt faint at heart.  The
lady turned very pale, and leaned her head
upon the upon the cushion; the maidens, raising
the trembling Hamed, led him to her side.
They talked for hours: not of themselves, but
of love: and expatiated eloquently on the
happiness of meeting, whilst the attendants
played on their lutes, or sang songs illustrative
of their situation. The shadows of
night were coming on, when a peculiar
sound at the outer gate announced that the
father of the maiden, whose name was
Leilah, had come to visit her. So, Haj Hamed
was thrust unceremoniously forth; and was
awakened from his dream of happiness amid
the deepening gloom of the forest. He
returned bowed down and heavy-hearted to
the encampment.

Many thoughts kept him awake for many
hours; it was not until the sky that
stretched betwixt the mountain tops overhead
had begun to whiten, that at length,
overcome with fatigue, he fell asleep.
Pleasant visions spake beneath his eyelids. When
he awoke, the tents were struck, the camels
were laden, and the people were filing off.
" Why this hurry? " he cried. " Was not
this a pleasant place to tarry in? Time is
eternal. There is no need to hasten from the
present, which is joyful, to the future which
is full of danger." Several merchants thought
he was jeering them for their philosophy of
the previous day, and hastened to complete