On this wise I abode a while of time, every day shooting an elephant, whereupon my master came and carried it away, till, one day, as I sat hidden in the tree, there came up elephants without number, roaring and trumpeting, so that meseemed the earth trembled for the din.  They all made for the tree whereon I was and the girth whereof was fifty cubits, and compassed it about.  Then a huge elephant came up to the tree and winding his trunk about it, tugged at it, till he plucked it up by the roots and cast it to the ground.  I fell among the elephants, and the great elephant, coming up to me, as I lay aswoon for affright, wound his trunk about me and tossing me on to his back, made off with me, accompanied by the others; nor did he leave faring on with me, and I absent from the world, till he brought me to a certain place and casting me down from off his back, went away, followed by the rest.  I lay there awhile, till my trouble subsided and my senses returned to me, when I sat up, deeming myself in a dream, and found myself on a great hill, stretching far and wide and all of elephants’ bones.  So I knew that this was their burial-place and that they had brought me thither on account of the bones.

Then I arose and fared on a day and a night, till I came to the house of my master, who saw me pale and disfeatured for fear and hunger.  He rejoiced in my return and said to me, ’By Allah, thou hast made my heart ache on thine account; for I went and finding the tree torn up by the roots, doubted not but the elephants had destroyed thee.  Tell me then how it was with thee.’  So I told him what had befallen me and he marvelled exceedingly and rejoiced, saying, ’Knowst thou where this hill is?’ ‘Yes, O my lord,’ answered I. So he took me up with him on an elephant and we rode till we came to the elephants’ burial-place.

When he saw those many bones, he rejoiced therein with an exceeding joy and carried away what he had a mind to thereof.  Then we returned to his house and he entreated me with increased favour and said to me, ’Verily, O my son, thou hast directed us to a passing great gain, may God requite thee with all good!  Thou art free for the sake of God the Most High.  Every year these elephants used to kill of us much people on account of these bones; but God delivered thee from them and thou hast done us good service in the matter of these bones, of which thou hast given us to know; wherefore thou meritest a great recompense, and thou art free.’  ‘O my lord,’ answered I, ’may God free thy neck from the fire!  I desire of thee that thou give me leave to return to my own country.’  ‘So be it,’ replied he; ’but we have a fair, on occasion whereof the merchants come hither to us and take of us these elephants’ bones.  The time of the fair is now at hand, and when they come to us, I will send thee with them and give thee somewhat to bring thee to thine own country.’