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"It is an island of fire, without anything on it but craggy mountains and wild rocks and flowing rivers of fire. It stands almost in the middle of the sea." "How can we get away from here?" I asked, after some silence. "From here? why, I open the gates, and the athaleb flies away; that is all." "But shall we not be prevented?" "Oh no. No one here ever prevents anyone from doing anything.

"Turn back," I cried, "or I will kill this athaleb!" Upon this Layelah dropped the reins, stood up, and looked at me with a smile. "Oh, Atam-or," said she, "what a thing to ask! How can I go back now, when we have started for the land of the Orin?" "We shall never reach the land of the Orin," I cried; "we shall perish in the sea!" "Oh no," said Layelah; "you cannot kill the athaleb.

These thoughts weighed down our spirits. We felt that we had gained nothing by our flight, and that our future was dark indeed. The only hope left us was that we might be able to guide the course of the athaleb in some different direction altogether, so that we should not be carried back to the Kosekin. And now, worn out by the long fatigues of this jom, we thought of sleep.

Then I shrank back, but Layelah laid her hand on my arm. "Don't be afraid," said she; "it's only an athaleb." "But won't it won't it bite?" I asked, with a shudder. "Oh no," said Layelah; "it swallows its victuals whole." At this I shrank away still farther. "Don't be afraid," said Layelah again. "Its jaws are muzzled, and, besides, it's a tame athaleb. Its jaws are unmuzzled only at feeding-time.

It was evident that the athaleb was desirous of reaching that shore, and we could do nothing but await the result. But the athaleb had his wits about him, and swam along on a line with the breakers for some distance, until at length an opening appeared, into which he directed his course. Passing through this we reached still water, which seemed like a lagoon surrounded by a coral reef.

The athaleb gave a wild, appalling shriek, and fell straight down into the water, fluttering vainly with one wing, while the other hung down useless. A shriek of horror burst from Layelah. She started back, and fell from her standing-place into the waves beneath.

There was nothing now but mournful tenderness the timid appeal of one who dreaded a repulse, the glance of deep affection, the abandonment of love. I held Layelah in my arms, and I thought of nothing now but words of consolation for her. Life seemed over; death seemed inevitable; and there, on the back of the athaleb, we floated on the waters and waited for our doom.

She informed me that they were capable of being tamed if caught when young, though in her country they were never made use of. The name given by the Kosekin to these monsters is athaleb. At length we drew near to our destination.

The aurora light was shining with unusual brilliancy, and disclosed everything the sea, the shore, the athaleb, the jantannin, the promontory, all more plainly and more luminously than before; but it was not any of these things that now excited my attention and rendered me dumb.

This one has been in service here for a hundred seasons and more." At this I began to regain my confidence, and as Layelah moved nearer to the athaleb I accompanied her. A nearer view, however, was by no means reassuring. The dragon look of the athaleb was stronger than ever, for I could see that all its body was covered with scales.