NASSTJK. 
155 
mediately employed in endeavouring to force the 
gate, were gazing about in astonishment at the vast- 
ness of the place, and the singularity of its decora- 
tions — when, suddenly, another report as loud as the 
first which had been heard, made every heart beat 
high . with apprehension, and sent the affrighted 
horses plunging and rearing in all directions. The 
door by which they had entered had closed behind 
them, and now, like the other, defied their most 
strenuous exertions to re-open it. After wearying 
their strength and tempers by repeated, but still in- 
effectual, efforts, they at last bethought them of their 
guide, the venerable fakhir , and wondered that he 
had not volunteered his services to extricate them 
from their dilemma. But they sought him in vain; 
he was not among them. They saw immediately 
that they were betrayed, and cursed their own in- 
caution and credulity. The whole scheme of the 
bandit chief was so plainly laid out before their 
opened eyes, that they denounced themselves, again 
and again, as three hundred of the most blind, in- 
sensate asses, who could possibly by unpardonable, 
almost voluntary, negligence, have sacrificed them- 
selves to the clumsy, ill- concealed pitfall of a stupid 
wolf. Every mesh of the unartful net had been 
conspicuously laid in their path ; they had seen every 
noose of the snare; and still, in fatal absence of 
mind, had planted their feet in it. Yet, truly, hath 
it ever been that 
