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I will follow her up till I bring her back." So he set off

gallopping on the gazelle's trail and gave not over tracking till

he reached the foot hills of a mountain chain where the quarry

made for a cave. Then the King cast off at it the falcon which

presently caught it up and, swooping down, drove her talons into

its eyes, bewildering and blinding it;[FN#88] and the King drew

his mace and struck a blow which rolled the game over. He then

dismounted; and, after cutting the antelope's throat and flaying

the body, hung it to the pommel of his saddle. Now the time was

that of the siesta[FN#89] and the wold was parched and dry, nor

was any water to be found anywhere; and the King thirsted and his

horse also; so he went about searching till he saw a tree

dropping water, as it were melted butter, from its boughs.

Thereupon the King who wore gauntlets of skin to guard him

against poisons took the cup from the hawk's neck, and filling it

with the water set it before the bird, and lo!