It seemed, I confess, rather unfair to Layelah to find out her plans and use them for another purpose; but then that other purpose was Almah, and to me at that time every device which was for her safety seemed fair and honorable.
"Here," said Layelah--"here, Atam-or, you see the way of escape.

The athaleb can carry us both far away to a land where you need never fear that they will put you to death--a land where the people love light and life.

Whenever you are ready to go, tell me; if you are ready to go now, say so, and at once I will open the door, and we shall soon be far away." She laid her hand on mine and looked at me earnestly; but I was not to be beguiled into any hasty committal of myself, and so I turned her proposal away with a question: "How far is it," I asked, "to that land ?" "It is too far for one flight," said Layelah.

"We go first over the sea till we come to a great island, which is called Magones, where there are mountains of fire; there we must rest, and feed the athaleb on fish, which are to be found on the shore.

The athaleb knows his way there well, for he goes there once every season for a certain sacred ceremony.