The sailors went ashore at the place he directed them to, and laying their casks on their shoulders easily got over the wall.

As they approached the basin, they perceived a man sleeping on the grass, and knew him to be Assad.  They immediately divided themselves; and while some of the crew filled their barrels with as little noise as possible, others surrounded Assad, and watched to seize him if he should awake.

He slept on undisturbed, giving them time to fill all their casks; which they afterwards handed over the wall to others of the crew who waited to carry them aboard.

They next seized Assad, and conveyed him away, without giving him time to recollect himself.  They got him over the wall into their boat with the casks, and rowed to the ship.  When they drew near her they cried out for joy, “Captain, sound your trumpets, beat your drums, we have brought you your slave.”

Behram, who could not imagine how the seamen could find and take him again, and did not see Assad in the boat, it being night, waited their arrival with impatience, to ask what they meant; but when he saw him, he could not contain himself for joy.  He commanded him to be chained, without staying to inquire how they came by him; and having hoisted the boat on board, set sail for the fiery mountain.

In the meanwhile queen Margiana was in alarm.  She was not at first apprehensive when she found prince Assad was gone out, because she did not doubt but he would soon return When some time had passed without his appearing, she began to be uneasy, and commanded her women to look for him.  They sought for him in every direction, and at night renewed their search by torch-light, but all to no purpose.

Queen Margiana was so impatient and alarmed, that she went herself with lights, and finding the garden-door open, entered, and walked all over it with her women to seek for him.  Passing by the fountain and basin, she espied a slipper, which she took up, and knew it to be prince Assad’s, her women also recognized it to be his.  This circumstance, together with the water being spilt about the edge of the basin, induced her to believe that Behram had carried him off.  She sent immediately to see if he was still in the port; and hearing he had sailed a little before it was dark, that he lay-to some time off the shore, while he sent his boat for water from the fountain, she sent word to the commander of ten ships of war, which lay always ready in the harbour, to sail on the shortest notice, that she would embark herself next morning as soon as it was day.  The commander lost no time, ordered the captains, seamen and soldiers aboard, and was ready to sail at the time appointed.  She embarked, and when the squadron was at sea, told the commander her intention.  “Make all the sail you can,” said she, “and chase the merchantman that sailed last night out of this port.  If you capture it, I assign it to you as your property; but if you fail, your life shall answer.”