us into their ship, where they immediately took off my veil. My
youth and features touched them, and they all declared how much
they were charmed at the sight of me. Instead of casting lots,
each of them claimed the preference, and me as his right. The
dispute grew warm, they came to blows, and fought like madmen.
The deck was soon covered with dead bodies, and they were all
killed but one, who being left sole possessor of me, said, "You
are mine. I will carry you to Grand Cairo, to deliver you to a
friend of mine, to whom I have promised a beautiful slave. But
who," added he, looking upon the sultan my husband, "is that man?
What relation does he bear to you? Are you allied by blood or
love?" "Sir," answered I, "he is my husband." "If so," replied
the pirate, "in pity I must rid myself of him: it would be too
great an affliction to him to see you in my friend's arms."
Having spoken these words, he took up the unhappy prince, who was
bound, and threw him into the sea, notwithstanding all my
endeavours to prevent him.

I shrieked in a dreadful manner at the sight of what he had done,
and had certainly cast myself headlong into the sea, but that the
pirate held me. He saw my design, and therefore bound me with
cords to the main-mast, then hoisting sail, made towards the
land, and got ashore. He unbound me and led me to a little town,
where he bought camels, tents, and slaves, and then set out for
Grand Cairo, designing, as he still said, to present me to his
friend, according to his promise.

We had been several days upon the road, when, as we were crossing
this plain yesterday, we descried the black who inhabited this
castle. At a distance we took him for a tower, and when near us,