Quoth I, "I know not this woman; belike it is other than I [to
whom this message is addressed]; so beware, O eunuch, lest thou
cast me into stress." Quoth he, "Behold, I have told thee [that
which I had to say,"] and went away, leaving me in concern [on
her account].

[When the appointed day arrived], I arose and changing my clothes
and favour, donned sailor's apparel; then I took with me a purse
full of gold and buying good [victual for the] morning-meal,
accosted a boatman [at Deir et Tin] and sat down and ate with
him; after which said I to him, "Wilt thou hire me thy boat?"
Quoth he, "The Commander of the Faithful hath commanded me to be
here;" and he told me the story of the concubines and how the
Khalif purposed to drown them that day. When I heard this from
him, I brought out to him half a score dinars and discovered to
him my case, whereupon quoth he to me, "O my brother, get thee
empty calabashes, and when thy mistress cometh, give me to know
of her and I will contrive the trick."

I kissed his hand and thanked him, and as I was walking about,
[waiting,] up came the guards and eunuchs with the women, who
were weeping and crying out and taking leave of one another. The
eunuchs cried out to us, whereupon we came with the boat, and
they said to the boatman, "Who is this?" "This is my mate,"
answered he, "[whom I have brought,] to help me, so one of us may
keep the boat, whilst another doth your service." Then they
brought out to us the women, one by one, saying, "Throw them [in]
by the Island;" and we answered, "It is well." Now each of them
was shackled and they had made a jar of sand fast about her neck.
We did as the eunuchs bade us and ceased not to take the women,