For two months I did this service.  One morning I was amazed to see that the elephants, instead of passing by, stopped and came towards my tree with a horrible noise, in such numbers that the plain was covered, and shook under them.  They surrounded the tree, with their trunks uplifted, and all fixed their eyes upon me.  This frightened me so that my bow and arrows fell out of my hand.

My fears were not without cause, for soon one of the largest of the elephants put his trunk round the foot of the tree, plucked it up, and threw it on the ground.  I fell with the tree, and the elephant, taking me up with his trunk, laid me on his back, where I sat more like one dead than alive.  He put himself at the head of the rest, who followed him in line, carried me some distance, then laid me down on the ground, and retired with all the others.  When they were gone, I got up, and found that I was upon a long and broad hill, almost covered with the bones and teeth of elephants.  I doubted not but that this was their burial place, and that they carried me thither on purpose to tell me that I should no longer kill them, now that I knew where to get their teeth without doing them harm.  I did not stay on the hill, but turned towards the city, and, traveling a day and a night, came to my patron.

He had believed me dead, for he had found the tree pulled up in the forest, and my bow and arrows on the ground.  When he had heard of my escape, we set out for the hill, and brought back as many teeth as an elephant could bear.  Then my master told me how many slaves had been killed by the elephants, and blessed me for making him and his whole city rich.  “I can treat you no more as a slave,” he said, “but as a brother.  I give you your liberty henceforth.  I will also give you riches.”

To this I answered that the only reward I wished was leave to return to my own country.  “Very well,” said he, “the monsoon will soon bring ships for ivory.  Then I will send you home.”

While waiting for the monsoon we made many journeys to the hill, and, when my ship sailed, my master loaded half of it with ivory on my account.  With this I traded at various ports, gaining vast sums of money.  Besides the ivory, my master gave me precious gifts.  The last portion of my journey I made by land, and when it was done I was happy in thinking I had nothing more to fear from the seas, from pirates, from serpents, or from the other perils to which I had been exposed.  Safe at Bagdad, I waited upon the Caliph at once, and told him how I had fulfilled his mission.  He loaded me with honors and rich presents, and I have ever since devoted myself to my family, kindred, and friends.

Sindbad here finished the story of his seventh and last voyage.  “Well, friend,” he said, turning to Hindbad, “did you ever hear of any person that suffered so much as I have done?  Is it not just that after all this I should enjoy a quiet and pleasant life?”