O my son, thou wilt not accept my counsel and I needs must let thee follow thy wilful way.  Take this ball and, mounting thy horse, throw it in front of thee, and as long as it shall roll onwards do thou ride after it, but when it shall stop at the hill-foot dismount from thy horse and throw the reins upon his neck and leave him alone, for he will stay there without moving until such time as thou return.  Then manfully breast the ascent, and on either side of the path, right and left, thou shalt see a scatter of huge black boulders.  Here the sound of many voices in confused clamour and frightful will suddenly strike thine ears, to raise thy wrath and to fill thee with fear and hinder thy higher course uphill.  Have a heed that thou be not dismayed, also beware, and again say I beware, lest thou turn they head at any time, and cast a look backwards.  An thy courage fail thee, or thou allow thyself one glance behind thee, thou shalt be transformed that very moment into a black rock; for know thou, O Prince, that all those stones which thou shalt see strewn upon thy way were men whilome and braves like thyself, who went forth with intent to gain the three things thou seekest, but frightened at those sounds lost human shape and became black boulders.  However, shouldst thou reach the hill-top sae and sound, thou shalt find on the very summit a cage and perched therein the Speaking-Bird ready to answer all thy queries.  So ask of him where thou mayest find the Singing-Tree and the Golden-Water, and he will tell thee all thou requirest.  When thou shalt safely have seized all three thou wilt be free from further danger; yet, inasmuch as thou hast not yet set out upon this journey give ear to my counsel.  I beg of thee to desist from this thy purpose and return home in peace whilst thou hast yet the power.”—­And as the morn began to dawn Shahrazad held her peace till

      The end of the Six Hundred and Seventy-sixth Night.

Then said she:—­I have heard, O auspicious King, that the Prince made answer to the Darwaysh, “Until, O thou holy man, such time as I win to my purpose I will not go back; no, never; therefore adieu.”  So he mounted his horse and threw the ball in front of him; and it rolled forward at racing-speed and he, with gaze intent thereupon, rode after it and did not suffer it to gain upon him.  When it had reached the hill whereof the Darwaysh spake, it ceased to make further way, whereupon the Prince dismounted and throwing the reins on his horse’s neck left him and fared on afoot to the slope.  As far as he could see, the line of his path from the hill-foot to the head was strown with a scatter of huge black boulders; withal his heart felt naught of fear.  He had not taken more than some four or five paces before a hideous din and a terrible hubbub of many voices arose, even as the Darwaysh had forewarned him.  Prince Bahman, however, walked on valiantly with front erect and fearless tread, but he saw no living thing and heard only the Voices[FN#362]