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of these bones, of which thou hast given us to know; wherefore thou meritest a great recompense, and thou art free.’ ‘O my lord,’ answered I, ‘may God free thy neck from the fire! I desire of thee that thou give me leave to return to my own country.’ ‘So be it,’ replied he; ‘but we have a fair, on occasion whereof the merchants come hither to us and take of us these elephants’ bones. The time of the fair is now at hand, and when they come to us, I will send thee with them and give thee somewhat to bring thee to thine own country.’
I blessed him and thanked him and abode with him in all honour and consideration, till, after a little, the merchants came, even as he had said, and bought and sold and bartered; and when they were about to depart, my master came to me and said, ‘The merchants are about to depart; arise, that thou mayst go with them to thy country.’ So I betook myself to the folk, and behold, they had bought great store of elephants’ bones and bound up their loads and embarked in the ship; and my master took passage for me with them and paid my hire and all that was chargeable upon me.[1] Moreover, he gave me great store of goods and
- ↑ i.e. the price of his victual and other necessaries for the voyage.
