was to be seen, and the King of Persia made vain efforts to discern them. The Indian, alarmed at what had happened, prostrated himself before the throne, and forced the king to pay attention to what he said. 'Sir,' said he, 'your majesty yourself saw that the prince was so hasty that he would not permit me to give him the necessary instructions how to govern my horse. From what he saw me do, he would show that he wanted not my advice. He was too willing to show his cleverness, but knows not how to turn the horse round and bring him back again. Therefore, sir, the favour I ask of your majesty is not to make me accountable for whatever accidents may befall him.'
This discourse of the Indian very much surprised and afflicted the King of Persia, who saw the danger his son was in if, as the Indian said, there was another secret to bring him back again different from that which carried him away, and asked, in a passion, why he did not call him back the moment he went.
'Sir,' answered the Indian, 'your majesty saw as well as I with what swiftness the horse and the prince flew away. The surprise in which I then was, and still am, deprived me of the use of my speech, and, if I could have spoken, he had got too far to hear me. If he had heard me, he knew not the secret to bring him back, which, through his impatience, he would not wait to learn. But sir,' added he, 'there is room for hope that the prince, when he finds himself at a loss, will perceive another peg; and, as soon as he turns that, the horse will cease to rise, and will descend to the ground, and he may turn him to whatever place he pleases by guiding him with the bridle.'
Notwithstanding all these arguments of the Indian, the King of Persia was terribly frightened at the evident danger of his son. 'I suppose,' replied he, 'it is very uncertain whether my son perceives the other peg and makes a right use of it; may not the horse, instead of lighting on the ground, fall upon some rock, or tumble into the sea with him?'
'Sir,' replied the Indian, 'I can deliver your majesty from this fear by assuring you that the horse crosses seas without ever falling into them, and always carries his rider wherever he has a mind to go. And your majesty may assure yourself that, if the
