When the grand vizier had done searching the vessel, she sailed.  As soon as Behram was got out to sea, he ordered prince Assad to be taken out of the chest, and fettered, to secure him, lest he should throw himself into the sea in despair since he knew he was going to be sacrificed.

The wind was very favourable for a few days, after which there arose a furious storm.  The vessel was driven out of her course, so that neither Behram nor his pilot knew where they were.  They were afraid of being wrecked on the rocks, for in the violence of the storm they discovered land, and a dangerous shoal before them.  Behram perceived that he was driven into the port and capital of queen Margiana, which occasioned him great mortification.

This queen Margiana was a devout professor of the Mahummedan faith, and a mortal enemy to the adorers of fire.  She had banished all of them out of her dominions, and would not suffer their ships to touch at her ports.

It was no longer in the power of Behram to avoid putting into the harbour, for he had no alternative but to be dashed to pieces against the frightful rocks that lay off the shore.  In this extremity he held a council with his pilot and seamen.  “My lads,” said he, “you see to what a necessity we are reduced.  We must choose one of two things; either to resolve to be swallowed up by the waves, or put into queen Margiana’s port, whose hatred to all persons of our religion you well know.  She will certainly seize our vessel and put us all to death, without mercy.  I see but one way to escape her, which is, to take off the fetters from the Mussulmaun we have aboard, and dress him like a slave.  When queen Margiana commands me to come before her, and asks what trade I follow, I will tell her I deal in slaves; that I have sold all I had, but one, whom I keep to be my clerk, because he can read and write.  She will by this means see him, and he being handsome, and of her own religion, will have pity on him.  No doubt she will then ask to buy him of me, and on this account will let us stay in the port till the weather is fair.  If any of you have any thing else to propose that will be preferable, I am ready to attend to it.”  The pilot and seamen applauded his judgment, and agreed to follow his advice.

Behram commanded prince Assad’s chains to be taken off, and had him neatly habited like a slave, as became one who was to pass for his clerk before the queen of the country.  They had scarcely time to do this, before the ship drove into the port, and dropped anchor.

Queen Margiana’s palace was so near the sea, that her garden extended down to the shore.  She saw the ship anchor, and sent to the captain to come to her, and the sooner to satisfy her curiosity waited for him in her garden.

Behram landed with prince Assad, whom he required to confirm what he had said of his being a slave, and his clerk.  When he was introduced to the queen, he threw himself at her feet, and informed her of the necessity he was under to put into her port:  that he dealt in slaves, and had sold all he had but one, who was Assad, whom he kept for his clerk.