to observe everything that he had commanded me. I took the bow and arrows out of the ground, shot at the horseman, and with the third arrow I overthrew him: he fell into the sea, and the horse fell by my side, and I buried him in the place whence I took the bow and arrows. In the meantime the sea swelled and rose up by degrees: when it came as high as the foot of the dome that stood upon the top of the mountain, I saw, afar off, a boat rowing towards me, and I returned God thanks that everything had happened according to my dream.
At last the boat made for land, and I saw the man was made of metal, as I had dreamt. I stepped aboard, and took great heed not to pronounce the name of God, neither spoke I one word; I sat down, and the man of metal began to row off from the mountain. He rowed without ceasing till the ninth day, when I saw some islands, which gave me hope that I should escape all the danger that I feared. The excess of my joy made me forget what I was forbidden to do: 'Blessed be God,' said I, 'God be praised.'
No sooner had I spoken these words than the boat sank with the man of metal, leaving me upon the surface. I swam for the remaining part of the day towards that land which appeared nearest to me. A very dark night succeeded, and, not knowing where I was, I swam haphazard. My strength at last began to fail, and I despaired of being able to save myself, when the wind began to blow, and a wave, as big as a mountain, threw me on a fiat coast, where it left me, and drew back. I made haste to get ashore, fearing another wave might wash me back again. The first thing I did was to strip and wring the water out of my clothes, and I then laid them out on the dry sand, which was still pretty warm from the heat of the day.
Next morning the sun dried my clothes early; I put them on, and went forward to see where I was. I had not walked very far before I found I was upon a little desert island, very pleasant, where there grew several sorts of trees and wild fruit; but I perceived it was very far from the continent, which much diminished my joy in having escaped the danger of the sea. I, notwithstanding, commended myself to God, and prayed Him to dispose of me according to His good will and pleasure. Just then I saw a vessel
