I doubted not but that
this was the burial place of the elephants, and that they carried me
thither on purpose to tell me that I should forbear to kill them, as
now I knew where to get their teeth without inflicting injury on them.
I did not stay on the hill, but turned toward the city; and after
having traveled a day and a night, I came to my patron.
As soon as my patron saw me, "Ah, poor Sindbad," exclaimed he, "I was
in great trouble to know what was become of you. I have been to the
forest, where I found a tree newly pulled up, and your bow and arrows
on the ground, and I despaired of ever seeing you more. Pray tell me
what befell you."
I satisfied his curiosity, and we both of us set out next morning to
the hill. We loaded the elephant which had carried us with as many
teeth as he could bear; and when we were returned, my master thus
addressed me: "Hear now what I shall tell you. The elephants of our
forest have every year killed us a great many slaves, whom we sent to
seek ivory. For all the cautions we could give them, these crafty
animals destroyed them one time or other. God has delivered you from
their fury, and has bestowed that favor upon you only. It is a sign
that He loves you, and has some use for your service in the world. You
have procured me incredible wealth; and now our whole city is
enriched by your means, without any more exposing the lives of our
slaves. After such a discovery, I can treat you no more as a slave,
but as a brother.
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