keep watch. He therefore waited till the sun rose high in the firmament; and as soon as he had bound Aulad to a tree, hand and foot, with the thongs of his kamund, drew his sword, and rushed among the prostrate Demons, dismembering and slaying all that fell in his way. Dreadful was the carnage, and those who survived fled in the wildest terror from the champion's fury.

Seventh Stage.- Rustem now hastened forward to encounter the White Demon.

Advancing to the cavern, he looked down.
And saw a gloomy place, dismal as hell;
But not one cursed, impious sorcerer
Was visible in that infernal depth.

Awhile he stood his falchion in his grasp,
And rubbed his eyes to sharpen his dim sight,
And then a mountain-form, covered with hair,
Filling up all the space, rose into view.
The monster was asleep, but presently
The daring shouts of Rustem broke his rest,
And brought him suddenly upon his feet,
When seizing a huge mill-stone, forth he came,
And thus accosted the intruding chief:

"Art thou so tired of life, that reckless thus
Thou dost invade the precincts of the Demons?
Tell me thy name, that I may not destroy
A nameless thing!" The champion stern replied,
"My name is Rustem sent by Zal, my father,
Descended from the champion Sam Suwar,
To be revenged on thee the King of Persia
Being now a prisoner in Mazinderan."
When the accursed Demon heard the name
Of Sam Suwar, he, like a serpent, writhed

In agony of spirit; terrified

At that announcement then, recovering strength,

He forward sprang, and hurled the mill-stone huge
Against his adversary, who fell back

And disappointed the prodigious blow.

Black frowned the Demon, and through Rustem's heart

A wild sensation ran of dire alarm;

But, rousing up, his courage was revived,

RUSTEM'S VICTORY.

Rustem challenges the Demon Monster to combat.