“SINBAD THE SAILOR”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 71, Issue 237, 6 October 1928, Page 24 (Supplement)

“SINBAD THE SAILOR”

TALES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS

time pass very slowly, as I had nothing with which to occupy my mind. »'™”> d tion. the King very kindly thoueht nut a plan to was a ve7e X Jhot" and arrow, and asked me it 1 knew how -o use it. I told him I was a very good snot.

“When the King heard that I was proficient with the bow and arrow, he was highly delighted. He said that now be could give me some very good sport, and also enable me to add to my fortune. He told m- thm the forests around the city were overrun with elephants and that he would take i•: > ’’ - aere 1 could hide, and shoot many, keeping part of the ivory of their link- u»r ;«•: v-i. iwe all excitement when I beard this, and anxious to get off. so. taking me un a ii-vouriie he made his way to a spot in the forest.”

'‘Leaving me with plenty of food, he returned to the town, and I climbed up a big tree and waited for the elephants. None came near me that day, but next morning a great herd of them came tramping past my tree. I shot my arrows into the midst of them, and at last succeeded in killing the largest. I then returned to the King, and. with his men, we went hack to the forest and buried the dead elephant, keeping the tusks, which were of great *alue. After this, I went every day to the forests to shoot elephants for the King.”

“One day a strange thing happened. Instead of passing, the elephants stopped at my .ree; then suddenly the largest put his trunk round it, rooted it up, and threw it to the ground. Although I was not hurt, I thought my last moment had come, but the elephant, lifting me in his trunk, placed me upon his back, and, with the rest of the herd, set forth into the forest. Presently he set me on the ground again and I thought my end had really come! But when I found courage to look around 1 discovered the elephants had disappeared.**

“Now.” said Sinbad. “this is the most extraordinary part of my story: the elephants had carried me to their burial ground—a place littered with the hones of dead elephants and hundreds and hundreds of tusks of ivory. They had taken me there to show me there was no need to kill them for their tusks. The King was so pleased at this vast wealth that he equipped a ship for me in which I sailed home, richer than I had ever been before. Once home. I never left Baghdad to go wandering again. “That,” “cried Sinbad, “was the end of my voyages. I hope you have enjoyed them.”

Before Polly. Richard or Gwendoline say how much they had enjoyed the stories of Sinbad, he had disappeared. “Well! he’s gone for good this time.” said Richard, picking up the cushion. "I should have liked to have thanked him.” “Yes! he was a nice old chap, wasn’t he?” said Gwen. ‘‘l wish he had waited a while,” said Polly, “there were one or two questions I shouM have liked to ask.” “Well, it’s no good now.” said Richard, “we cent disturb him again.” And the chums went indoors to dream about the Adventures of Sinbad the Sailor.