when he sang out in some barbarous jargon[FN#213] and there came to us a number of men with two boats.  Then the Captain embarked us in one of them (and he with us) whilst the rest of his men put off in the other, and rowed on with us till we arrived at the palace of the Caliphate where Shams al-Nahar landed.  And all the while we endured the agonies of death for excess of fear, and they ceased not faring till they came to a place whence there was a way to our quarter.  Here we landed and walked on, escorted by some of the horsemen, till we came to Ali bin Bakkar’s house; and when we entered it, our escort took leave of us and went their way.  We abode there, unable to stir from the place and not knowing the difference between morning and evening; and in such case we continued till the dawn of the next day.  And when it was again nightfall, I came to myself and saw Ali bin Bakkar and the women and men of his household weeping over him, for he was stretched out without sense or motion.  Some of them came to me and thoroughly arousing me said, ’Tell us what hath befallen our son and say how came he in this plight?’ Replied I, ’O folk, hearken to me!’”—­And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.

       When it was the One Hundred and Sixty-fifth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the jeweller answered them, “’O folk, hearken to my words and give me no trouble and annoyance! but be patient and he will come to and tell you his tale for himself.’  And I was hard upon them and made them afraid of a scandal between me and them, but as we were thus, behold, Ali bin Bakkar moved on his carpet-bed, whereat his friends rejoiced and the stranger folk withdrew from him; but his people forbade me to go away.  Then they sprinkled rose-water on his face and he presently revived and sensed the air; whereupon they questioned him of his case, and he essayed to answer them but his tongue could not speak forthright and he signed to them to let me go home.  So they let me go, and I went forth hardly crediting my escape and returned to my own house, supported by two men.  When my people saw me thus, they rose up and set to shrieking and slapping their faces; but I signed to them with my hand to be silent and they were silent.  Then the two men went their way and I threw myself down on my bed, where I lay the rest of the night and awoke not till the forenoon, when I found my people gathered round me and saying, ’What calamity befel thee, and what evil with its mischief did fell thee?’ Quoth I ’Bring me somewhat to drink.’  So they brought me drink, and I drank of it what I would and said to them, ‘What happened, happened.’  Thereupon they went away and I made my excuses to my friends, and asked if any of the goods that had been stolen from my other house had been returned.  They answered, ’Yes! some of them have come back; by token that a man entered and threw them down within the doorway and we saw him not.’