The grateful slave set sail, but he had journeyed only a few hours when a terrible tempest arose, and it was so violent as to throw him on an island that seemed to be deserted. The unfortunate man had lost his vessel and all his merchandise, and he was the victim of despair. When he landed on the island, the sole survivor of his expedition, he gave himself up to grief, and went forward friendless, alone, and in the direst poverty, not knowing where to direct his steps. But he was soon to be made supremely happy, for he discovered a path that was scarcely perceptible. He followed it with eagerness, and soon arrived at the top of a high mountain, from which he could see a great city. He made haste to go in that direction, but what was his astonishment when, on approaching the city, he found himself surrounded by a great concourse of people, crying out in transports of joy. The drums beat loudly and the trumpets sounded, and on all sides the heralds exclaimed: "Men! here is your monarch!" At last the slave and his cavalcade arrived in the city, and with great pomp he was installed in a marvellous palace, where the kings of the country had lived. The fortunate slave was taken in charge by the servants of the palace, and robed in fine purple garments, and his head was crowned with a diadem. Then the principal lords of the realm, in the name of the people, swore allegiance to him and the obedience and fidelity due unto sovereigns. The happy monarch for a long time believed that he was dreaming. His good fortune seemed to him to be a whim—the result of circumstance. However, after a long time he realized the full measure of his responsibility, and thought to himself—"What does all this signify? What does Providence wish me to do? This worried him night and day, and finally he sent for the wisest lord in his kingdom. "Vizier," he asked, "who made me your King? Why do the people obey me? And what is to become of me?" "You must know, great King," responded the minister, "that the genii who inhabit this island have asked the good Lord to send them each year a child of Adam to reign over them. These vows the great Being has deigned to answer, and every year, on the same day, a man lands on our coast. At such time the people are filled with transports of joy; they meet him with loud acclaim, as they met you, and crown him King; but the extent of his reign can only be for one year. When the twelve months are out, the King, who has been so powerful is stripped of his honors, clothed in coarse garments, and his soldiers, unmercifully pursuing a custom, seize and convey him on board a black ship, which carries him away to a deserted island, which has been rendered sterile by the winds and waves. He that was only a few days before a rich and powerful monarch, now finds himself without subjects, friends, or consolers. Thereafter he lives a sorrowful life, and the people who have obeyed his will forget even his name."