Now this Sudun had built his fortress on the summit of a high hill.  It was very secure, and he defended it with the edge of the sword.  It was his usual resort, from whence he sallied forth on plundering expeditions, and rendered the roads unsafe.  At length the news of him reached King Saif Ar-Raad, who sent against him three thousand men, but he routed and destroyed them all.  Upon this, the King sent a larger number against him, who experienced the same fate.  He then despatched a third army, upon which Sudun fortified himself afresh, and reared the walls of his fortress so high that an eagle could scarcely pass them.  We will now return to Shama, who went to Wakhs El Fellat, and reproached him with the conditions he had agreed to, and added, “It would be better for you to leave this place, and take me with you, and we will put ourselves under the protection of some powerful king.”  “God forbid,” replied he, “that I should take you with me in so dishonourable a manner.”  As he still positively refused to consent, she grew angry, and left him.  Wakhs El Fellat lay down to rest, but he could not sleep.  So he rose up, mounted his horse, and rode away at midnight; and in the morning he met a horseman who stationed himself in his path, but who was so completely armed that his face was concealed.  When Wakhs El Fellat saw him, he cried to him, “Who are you, and where are you going?” But instead of replying, he pressed upon him, and aimed a blow which Wakhs El Fellat successfully parried.  A fight then commenced between them, which lasted till nearly evening.  At last the difference in their strength became perceptible, and Wakhs El Fellat struck his adversary so violent a blow with his javelin that his horse fell to the ground.  He then dismounted, and was about to slay him, when the horseman cried to him, “Do not kill me, O brave warrior, or you will repent when repentance will no more avail you.”  “Tell me who you are?” returned Wakhs El Fellat.  “I am Shama, the daughter of King Afrakh,” replied the horseman.  “Why have you acted thus?” asked he.  “I wished to try whether you would be able to hold your own against Sudun’s people,” she replied.  “I have tried you now, and found you so valiant that I fear no longer on your account.  Take me with you, O hero.”  “God forbid that I should do so,” he returned; “what would Sikar Diun and the others say?  They would say that if Shama had not been with him, he would never have been able to prevail against Sudun.”  She then raised her eyes to heaven, and said, “O God, permit him to fall into some danger from which I alone may deliver him!” Upon this Wakhs El Fellat pursued his journey, without giving any attention to her words.  On the third day he arrived at the valley where the fortress of Sudun was situated, when he began to work his way along behind the trees; and towards evening he arrived at the fortress itself, which he found to be surrounded with a moat; and the gates were closed.  He was still undecided what