Pagina 337 van 1116

He had tortured the lady with exceeding tortures, natheless she

would not confess to him aught; so he took the hatchet and

sandals and said to her, "As surely as I am Jirjis of the seed of

Iblis, I will bring thee back the owner of this and

these!"[FN#214] Then he went to the woodcutters with the pretence

aforesaid and, being directed to me, after waiting a while in the

shop till the fact was confirmed, he suddenly snatched me up as a

hawk snatcheth a mouse and flew high in air; but presently

descended and plunged with me under the earth (I being aswoon the

while), and lastly set me down in the subterranean palace wherein

I had passed that blissful night. And there I saw the lady

stripped to the skin, her limbs bound to four stakes and blood

welling from her sides.