if thou be fortunate enough to seize him, he will direct thee where to find the Singing-Tree and the Golden-Water. All the time thou climbest the hill, Voices from throats unseen and accents fierce and fell shall resound in thine ears. Furthermore, thou shalt see black rocks and boulders strewn upon thy path; and these, thou must know, are the transformed bodies of men who with exceeding courage attempted the same enterprise, but filled with sudden fear and tempted to turn and to look backwards were changed into stones. Now do thou steadily bear in mind what was their case. At the first they listened to those fearful sounds and cursings with firm souls, but anon their hearts and minds misgave them, or, haply, they fumed with fury to hear the villain words addressed to them and they turned about and gazed behind them, whereat both men and horses became black boulders.” But when the Darwaysh had told her every whit, the Princess made reply, “From what thou sayest it seemeth clear to me that these Voices can do nothing but threaten and frighten by their terrible din; furthermore that there is naught to prevent a man climbing up the hill, nor is there any fear of any one attacking him; all he hath to do is on no account to look behind him.” And after a short pause she presently added, “O Fakir, albeit a woman yet I have both nerve and thews to carry me through this adventure. I shall not heed the Voices nor be enraged thereat, neither will they have any power to dismay me: moreover, I have devised a device whereby my success on this point is assured.” “And what wilt thou do?” asked he, and she answered, “I will stop mine ears with cotton so may not my mind be disturbed and reason perturbed by hearing those awesome sounds.” The Fakir marvelled with great marvel and presently exclaimed, “O my lady, methinks thou art destined to get possession of the things thou seekest. This plan hath not occurred to any hitherto[113] and hence it is haply that one and all have failed miserably and have perished in the attempt. Take good heed to thyself however, nor run any risk other than the enterprise requireth.” She replied, “I have no cause for fear since this one and only danger is before me to prevent happy issue. My heart doth bear me witness that I shall surely gain the guerdon wherefor I have undertaken such toil and trouble. But now do thou tell me what I must do, and whither to win my wish I must wend.” The Darwaysh once more besought her to return home, but Perizadah refused to listen and remained as firm and resolute as before; so when he saw that she was fully bent upon carrying out her purpose he exclaimed, “Depart, O my daughter, in the peace of Almighty Allah and His blessing; and may He defend thy youth and beauty from all danger.” Then taking from his bag a ball he gave it her and said, “When thou art seated in saddle throw this before thee and follow it whitherso it lead thee; and when it shall stop