“It is an addition to my joy,” answered the young prince, “to understand that my victory will save the lives of those unfortunate beings.  Come along with me, madam, to partake in the satisfaction of giving them their liberty.  You may judge by your own feelings how welcome we shall be to them.”  Having so said, they advanced towards the door of the dungeon, and the nearer they drew, the more distinctly they heard the lamentations of the prisoners.  Codadad pitying them, and impatient to put an end to their sufferings, presently put one of the keys into the lock.  The noise made all the unfortunate captives, who concluded it was the black coming, according to custom, to seize one of them to devour, redouble their cries and groans.  Lamentable voices were heard, which seemed to come from the centre of the earth.

In the mean time, the prince had opened the door; he went down a very steep staircase into a large and deep vault, which received some feeble light from a little window, and in which there were above a hundred persons, bound to stakes, and their hands tied.  “Unfortunate travellers,” said he to them, “wretched victims, who only expected the moment of an approaching cruel death, give thanks to heaven, which has this day delivered you by my means.  I have slain the black by whom you were to be devoured, and am come to knock off your chains.”  The prisoners hearing these words, gave a shout of mingled joy and surprise.  Codadad and the lady began to unbind them; and as soon as any of them were loose, they helped to take off the fetters from the rest; so that in a short time they were all at liberty.

They then kneeled down, and having returned thanks to Codadad for what he had done for them, went out of the dungeon; but when they were come into the court, how was the prince surprised to see among the prisoners, those he was in search of, and almost without hopes to find!  “Princes,” cried he, “am I not deceived?  Is it you whom I behold?  May I flatter myself that it may be in my power to restore you to the sultan your father, who is inconsolable for the loss of you?  But will he not have some one to lament?  Are you all here alive?  Alas! the death of one of you will suffice to damp the joy I feel for having delivered you!”

The forty-nine princes all made themselves known to Codadad, who embraced them one after another, and told them how uneasy their father was on account of their absence.  They gave their deliverer all the commendations he deserved, as did the other prisoners, who could not find words expressive enough to declare their gratitude.  Codadad, with them, searched the whole castle, where was immense wealth; curious silks, gold brocades, Persian carpets, China satins, and an infinite quantity of other goods, which the black had taken from the caravans he had plundered, a considerable part whereof belonged to the prisoners Codadad had then liberated.  Every man knew and claimed his property.  The prince restored them