took all imaginable precautions, and all made one another their heirs, by virtue of a will, for the benefit of those that should happen to be saved.
The next morning we perceived the black mountain very plainly, and the idea we had formed of it made it appear more frightful than it was. About noon we had come so near that we found what the pilot had foretold to be true; for we saw all the nails and iron about the ships fly towards the mountain, where they fixed, by the violence of the attraction, with a horrible noise: the ships split asunder, and sank into the sea, which was so deep about the place that we could not sound it. All my people were drowned; but I was permitted to save myself by means of a plank, which the wind drove ashore just at the foot of the mountain. I did not receive the least hurt; and my good fortune brought me to a landing-place, where there were steps that went up to the top of the mountain.
At the sight of these steps, for there was not a bit of ground on either the right or the left whereon a man could set his foot, I gave thanks to God, and recommended myself to His holy protection. I then began to mount the steps, which were so narrow, rugged, and hard to get up that, had the wind blown ever so little, it would have thrown me down into the sea. But at last I got up to the top without any accident.
I passed the night under the dome; and in my sleep a grave old man appeared to me, and said, 'Hearken, Agib; as soon as thou art awake, dig up the ground under thy feet: thou shalt find a bow of brass, and three arrows of lead, that are made under certain constellations, to deliver mankind from the many calamities that threaten them. Shoot the three arrows at the statue, and the rider will fall into the sea, but the horse will fall down by thy side. Thou must bury him in the place from whence thou tookest the bow and arrows: this being done, the sea will swell and rise up to the foot of the dome that stands upon the top of the mountain. When it comes up so high, thou shalt see a boat, with one man holding an oar in each hand; this man is also of metal, but different from the one thou hast thrown down; step on board to him, without mentioning the name of God, and let him conduct thee. In ten
