Sec. 103.  At last it happen’d, one time that Hai Ebn Yokdhan coming out to look for Provision in the the same place whither Asal was retired, they spy’d one another. Asal, for his part, did not question but that it was some religious Person, who for the sake of a solitary Life, had retir’d into that Island, as he had done himself, and was afraid, lest if he should come up to him, and make himself known, it might spoil his Meditation, and hinder his attaining what he hop’d for. Hai Ebn Yokdhan on the other side could not imagine what it was, for of all the Creatures he had ever beheld in his whole Life, he had never seen any thing like it.  Now Asal had a black Coat on, made with Hair and Wool, which Hai Ebn Yokdhan fancied was natural, and stood wondring at it a long time. Asal ran away as hard as he could, for fear he should disturb his Meditation; Hai Ebn Yokdhan ran after him, out of an innate desire he had to know the Truth of Things.  But when he perceiv’d Asal make so much haste, he retir’d a little and hid himself from him; so that Asal thought he had been quite gone off, and then he fell to his Prayers, and Reading, and Invocation, and Weeping; and Supplication, and Complaining, till he was altogether taken up, so as to mind nothing else.

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[Illustration 7]

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Sec. 104.  In the mean time Hai Ebn Yokdhan stole upon him by degrees, and Asal took no notice of him, till he came so near as to hear him read and praise God, and observ’d his humble Behaviour, and his Weeping, and heard a pleasant Voice and distinct Words, such as he had never observ’d before in any kind of Animals; Then he look’d upon his Shape and Lineaments, and perceiv’d that he was of the same Form with himself, and was satisfied that the Coat he had on, was not a natural Skin, but an artificial Habit like his own.  And when he observ’d the Decency of his humble Behaviour, and his Supplication and Weeping, he did not at all question but that he was one of those Essences which had the Knowledge of the TRUE ONE; and for that Reason he had a Desire to be acquainted with him, and to know what was the matter with him, and what caus’d this Weeping and Supplication.  Whereupon he drew nearer to him, till Asal perceiving it, betook himself to his Heels again, and Hai Ebn Yokdhan(answerably to his Vigour and Power both of Knowledge and Body, which God had bestow’d upon him) pursu’d him with all his Might, till at last he overtook him and seiz’d on him, and held him fast, so that he could not get away.