The Book of Sand: Part II Summary

The Night of the Gifts

An older fellow, Rufino, takes the narrator to town to a house of prostitution. There is a woman there called "the Captive" who tells the story of when she was under fire during an Indian raid. Suddenly, a bunch of rough men come into the house, including a known gangster, Juan Moreira. The narrator goes to hide in a bedroom upstairs. Then the Captive initiates him into sex. Later a sergeant stabs Juan Moreira to death with a bayonet.

Undr

The narrator gets a report from an Icelander, Ulf Sigurdason about the land of Urns. Ulf composes a poem in praise of the king of Urns, hoping to avoid execution. After his arrest, he is brought to the King, recites the poem, and receives a gift. Ulf wanders...