" At
these words my sisters changed color, and I could perceive afterward
that they did not love me as before.
We entered the Persian Gulf, and had come within a short distance of
Bussorah (where I hoped, considering the fair wind, we might have
arrived the day following), when, in the night, while I was asleep, my
sisters watched their opportunity and threw me overboard. They did the
same to the prince, who was drowned. I floated some minutes on the
water, and by good fortune, or rather miracle, I felt ground. I went
toward a dark spot, that, by what I could discern, seemed to be land,
and which, when day appeared, I found to be a desert island, lying
about twenty miles from Bussorah. I soon dried my clothes in the sun,
and as I walked along I found several kinds of fruit, and likewise
fresh water, which gave me some hopes of preserving my life.
I had just laid myself down to rest in a shade, when I perceived a
very large winged serpent coming toward me, with an irregular waving
movement, and hanging out its tongue, which induced me to conclude it
had received some injury. I instantly arose, and perceived that it was
pursued by a larger serpent which had hold of its tail, and was
endeavoring to devour it. This perilous situation of the first serpent
excited my pity; and instead of retreating, I took up a stone that
lay near me, and threw it with all my strength at its pursuer, whom I
hit upon the head and killed.
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