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PRINCE AHMED
161

his labor was in vain; yet he felt compelled to proceed, till he came to some steep craggy rocks, which completely prevented any further progress.

At the very foot of these rocks he perceived an arrow, which, to his great astonishment, he found to be the same he had shot. "Certainly," said he to himself, "neither I nor any man living could shoot an arrow so far. There must be come mystery in this; and perhaps fortune, to make amends for depriving me of what I thought the greatest happiness of my life, may have reserved a greater blessing for my comfort."

On looking about, the prince beheld an iron door, which seemed to be locked; but on his pushing against it, it opened, and revealed a staircase, which he walked down with his arrow in his hand. At first he thought he was going into a dark place, but presently he was surrounded by light, and beheld a splendid palace, the admirable structure of which he had not time to look at; for at the same instant a lady of majestic air, and of a beauty heightened by the richness of the jewels which adorned her person,