Camaralzaman followed, and
the bird, having swallowed the talisman, took a further flight: the
prince still followed; the further she flew, the more eager he grew
in pursuing her. Thus the bird drew him along from hill to valley,
and valley to hill all day, every step leading him further away
from the field where he had left his camp and the Princess Badoura;
and instead of perching at night on a bush where he might probably
have taken her, she roosted on a high tree, safe from pursuit. The
prince, vexed to the heart for taking so much pains to no purpose,
thought of returning to the camp; 'but,' said he to himself, 'which
way shall I return? Shall I go down the hills and valleys which I
passed over? Shall I wander in darkness? and will my strength bear
me out? How dare I appear before my princess without her talisman?'
Overwhelmed with such thoughts, and tired with the pursuit, he lay
down under a tree, where he passed the night.
He awoke the next morning before the bird had left the tree, and,
as soon as he saw her on the wing, followed her again that whole
day, with no better success, eating nothing but herbs and fruits
all the way. He did the same for ten days together, pursuing the
bird, and keeping his eye upon her from morning to night, always
lying under the tree where she roosted.
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