Hatim, astonished at this strange occurrence, refrained from tasting the water, thirsty as he was. He at length asked his companions how they felt, but no answer did he receive. They stood like statues with their eyes fixed upon him. Thus passed the whole of that night, Hatim suffering the pangs of hunger and thirst. When morning dawned, he looked at the faces of his attendants, which were all swelled up like so many leathern bottles, so that their eyes even could not be seen. His sorrow was beyond control; but at length he reflected that what he saw might be the effect of enchantment. He therefore pronounced the sacred charm, and in an instant the swelling abated; he repeated it, and from every part of their bodies a green-colored liquid was seen to issue. A third time he uttered the divine words, and his companions received the full enjoyment of all their faculties.
Hatim’s joy was now equal to his previous sorrow, while he listened to the grateful prayers of his rescued followers. At length he asked them, “Can you explain the cause of your late calamity?”—“The cause is evident,” they replied; “this is the road by which the magician travelled, and he enchanted the water of the lake.” Hatim pronounced his charm, and breathed on the water. It first became agitated like the boiling ocean, and its color was red: then it changed to green, and gradually settling, became pure as crystal. Hatim, now assured that no traces of the enchantment remained about the water, drank of it freely, and invited his companions to do the same without fear. He also enjoined them to bathe therein.
All of them accordingly allayed their thirst, and bathed their bodies in the now pure and wholesome lake, whereby every trace of their late calamity left them, and their confidence in the power of Hatim became complete. They tendered him their sincere gratitude, and said, “Forward, brave Hatim! we will follow you even until death in your contest with the magician Sam Ahmar and his master Kamlak, for you are far greater and better than they.” Hatim resumed his journey, and his companions joyfully followed.
Meanwhile Sam Ahmar, defeated and downcast, fled to the presence of Kamlak. The latter observing his dejected state, asked him, “What misfortune hath befallen thee, that thou comest in such woful plight?”—“Great master,” replied the magician, “I come to implore thine aid. Hatim, my superior in the magic art, hath expelled me from my residence, and hither have I fled to escape his vengeance.” Kamlak, enraged at this intelligence, said, “Rest thee content, my son, I shall soon vanquish this Hatim, and having made him my captive, resign him to thy disposal.”
Immediately Kamlak began his enchantment, and took measures to fortify the mountain which he inhabited. In an instant the whole mountain was wrapt in flames so bright as to leave no distinction between night and day. Four days after, Hatim arrived, and his companions addressing him, said, “This is, indeed, the mountain where Kamlak dwells; but why does it thus burn? Assuredly this is caused by his enchantment.”
Hatim devoutly recommended himself to heaven and pronounced the sacred words of Khizr; and the flames ceased to issue from the mountain. Kamlak was soon informed of his foe’s approach, and how he had quenched the flames by the mere breath of his mouth. He now tried the power of his art in a different manner. On all sides of Hatim and his companions floods of water were seen to rush, as if the ocean had burst from its channels. “Help us, Hatim,” exclaimed his friends, “or we shall be drowned; these waters are the creation of Kamlak.” Hatim repeated his spell; blew with his breath on the waters, which instantly stood still, and in a short time no trace of them was left. Kamlak was highly mortified in seeing his power a second time defied, and once more he and his disciple renewed their attack. The clouds began to shower stones of five to ten tons in weight, but Hatim was prepared for this also. He and his friends sat secure under the power of the sacred spell, while the storm for three days and nights fell harmless around them. At length, when the heap of stones beside them reached the height of a mountain, so that nothing else was visible, Hatim pronounced his charm, and all was annihilated; after which, he boldly marched towards the mountain. The arch-magician then uttered an incantation, whereby the mountain entirely disappeared from Hatim’s sight: he, however, nothing daunted, sat down with his companions, who were astonished at this last feat; and having uttered his powerful spell he awaited the result. After three days the mountain again appeared, and Hatim and his friends began to ascend.
Meanwhile the attendants of Kamlak informed him that Hatim and his followers were at hand. On hearing this, the magician formed a canopy of clouds three thousand cubits above the summit of the mountain. Thither Kamlak and Sam Ahmar with their attendants transported themselves, and made every entrance fast. Hatim at length reached the summit of the mountain, where he beheld a spacious city. On entering, he found it full of food and fruits, also the most delicious wines, with everything that could excite the palate. His companions immediately began to eat; but the moment they tasted the infernal fare, they became inflated like bottles, as had previously happened at the enchanted lake. Hatim at once discovered that the arch-magician had laid this snare for him. He took a cup full of water as previously, and having pronounced the charm over it, gave it to them. As soon as they tasted of this precious draught, the effects of the enchantment ceased. Hatim then breathed over the whole of the victuals, and said to his friends, “Now you may eat your full.” Their hunger appeased, he asked them whether they knew into what part of the clouds above them the magicians had betaken themselves. They replied, that Kamlak and his disciple were in a cloud of the shape of an immense dome that towered above the rest. Hatim pronounced the sacred name, and seven times blew his breath towards the heaven, when all at once the mass of clouds with the magicians in it fell with a crash on the top of the mountain. Hatim’s enemies were so astounded by the fall, that they became an easy prey. Their limbs were disjointed, and many of them were crushed to atoms, and their polluted souls plunged to perdition. Sam Ahmar and Kamlak soon recovered their senses, and fled along the mountain. On a sudden they plunged headlong over a precipice, and resigned their souls to Iblis, the prince of darkness.
It may be easily conceived that Hatim’s joy was great at this defeat of his enemies. He devoutly bowed his head and poured out his thanks to God. This done, he addressed Sarmak, saying, “To thee, my friend, I owe a boon. I promised thee that on defeating these magicians I should bestow their kingdom on thee. This promise I am ready to fulfil, but on condition that thou wilt acknowledge no other God, save the true and Almighty Creator, and that thou wilt protect his worshippers from injury and oppression.” Having thus addressed his friend, he summoned to his presence the rest of his attendants, and said, “I here in the presence of you all appoint Sarmak your future sovereign, whom you shall obey; and you must acknowledge the true and living God, to whom you shall consider yourselves as servants, and you shall worship him night and day, for of a surety, if you act uprightly, he will reward you accordingly. Meanwhile, farewell! I must hasten to the presence of the queen of beauty, Zarinposh.”—“God be with you, brave man,” they all exclaimed, “rest assured that we shall strictly abide by your orders and never disobey the ruler whom you have appointed over us.”
Thus parted Hatim with the subjects of the late magician. Night and day he hurried onwards till he reached the enchanted lake. There he found several of the damsels whom he had formerly seen, stationed as sentinels near the place. “Whence and what are you?” cried the first of them he met. “I am,” replied he, “the same who passed several days in your society as I lately travelled this way; I even shared your penance, for my head was for some days suspended to the branches of the tree that overhangs yonder lake; I pray you, convey my most courteous greeting to the beautiful queen, your mistress.” The fair sentinel ran to her sovereign with this intelligence, saying, “Noble mistress, a young man, whose name is Hatim, stands at your gate; he once passed some days with us when under the influence of the enchantment, and now he craves admission into your royal presence.”
The queen, after some consideration, said, “Where can Hatim have been since that time? I believe, however, he has since then journeyed to the mountain of Ahmar, and most likely he will be able to furnish us with some tidings of my father; go and ask if this be the case; and if so, admit him.” The damsel made the necessary inquiry, and was thus answered by Hatim, “The magician was one who feared not God, and now his soul is consigned to perdition, and he will get the reward due to his iniquities, for he has been cut off in the midst of his crimes; but all this must be detailed in the presence of the queen.” The sentinel returned and stated to her mistress what Hatim had told her. On hearing this news, the queen was exceedingly grieved, and tears fell copiously from her eyes. Her damsels endeavored to console her, saying, “Royal mistress, to weep for the death of such a father as yours is a crime. It is certain that had not your father died, we should have still remained in the bonds of his cruel enchantment; but now let us introduce Hatim, and ask of him the circumstance.” The queen assented, and Hatim, by her request, approached the royal presence. Zarinposh, arrayed in splendid apparel, sat upon an emerald throne studded with jewels.