Then said he, 'O youths, Sons of Aklis, it is written that gratitude is
the poor man's mine of wealth, and the rich man's flower of beauty; and I
have but that to give ye for all this aid and friendliness of yours.'

But they exclaimed, 'No aid or friendliness in Aklis! By the gall of the
Roc! it is well for thee thou camest armed with potent spells, and hadst
one to advise and inspirit thee, or thou wouldst have stayed here to
people Aklis, and grazed in a strange shape.'

Now, the seven waxed in impatience, and he laid their hands upon his
head and moved from them with Abarak, to where in the dusk the elephant
that had brought them stood. Then the elephant kneeled and took the
twain upon his back, and bore them across the dark land to that reach of
the river where the boat was moored in readiness. They entered the boat
silently among its drapery of lotuses, and the Veiled Figure ferried them
over the stream that rippled not with their motion. As they were
crossing, desire to know that Veiled Figure counselled Shibli Bagarag
evilly to draw the Sword again, and flash it, so that the veil became
transparent. Then, when Abarak turned to him for the reason of the
flashing of the Sword, he beheld the eyes of the youth fixed in horror,
glaring as at sights beyond the tomb. He said nought, but as the boat's-
head whispered among the reeds and long flowers of the opposite marge, he
took Shibli Bagarag by the shoulders and pushed him out of the boat, and
leaped out likewise, leading him from the marge forcibly, hurrying him
forward from it, he at the heels of the youth propelling him; and crying
in out-of-breath voice at intervals, 'What sight? what sight?' But the
youth was powerless of speech, and when at last he opened his lips, the
little man shrank from him, for he laughed as do the insane, a peal of
laughter ended by gasps; then a louder peal, presently softer; then a
peal that started all the echoes in Aklis. After awhile, as Abarak still