the wet hairs of his head, and presently taking the Identical in its
beak, the hawk lifted him half out of water, and bore him a distance, and
dropped him. This the hawk did many times, and at the last, Shibli
Bagarag felt land beneath him, and could wade through the surges to the
shore. He gave thanks to the Supreme Disposer, kneeling prostrate on the
shore, and fell into a sleep deep in peacefulness as a fathomless well,
unruffled by a breath.

Now, when it was dawn Shibli Bagarag awoke and looked inland, and saw
plainly the minarets of a city shining in the first beams, and the front
of yellow mountains, and people moving about the walls and on the towers
and among the pastures round the city; so he made toward them, and
inquired of them the name of their city. And they stared at him, crying,
'What! know'st thou not the City of Oolb? the hawk on thy shoulder could
tell thee that much.' He looked and saw that the hawk was on his
shoulder; and its left wing was scorched, the plumage blackened. So he
said to the hawk, 'Is it profitable, O preserving bird, to ask of thee
questions?'

The hawk shook its wings and closed an eye.

So he said, 'Do I well in entering this city?'

The hawk shook its wings again and closed an eye.

So he said, 'To what house shall I direct my steps in this strange city
for the attainment of the purpose I have?'

The hawk flew, and soared, and alighted on the topmost of the towers of
Oolb. So when it returned he said, 'O bird! rare bird! my counsellor!