In a moment of respite from attack he struck his fire-steel and burned a hair of the king-lion ; and he had just succeeded in this when the negroes charged again and all but took him prisoner . Suddenly from behind the distant veil of the desert appeared an army of lions led by their king . ` What brings these scourges of heaven here ? ' cried the negroes . They came roaring up , and put fresh life into the prince . He fought on , and when he struck on a belt the wearer fell in two , and when on a head he cleft to the waist . Then the ten thousand mighty lions joined the fray and tore in pieces man and horse . Taram-taq was left alone ; he would have retired into his fort , but the prince shouted : ` Whither away , accursed one ? Are you fleeing before me ? ' At these defiant words the chief shouted back , ` Welcome , man ! Come here and I will soften you to wax beneath my club . ' Then he hurled his club at the prince 's head , but it fell harmless because the prince had quickly spurred his horse forward . The chief , believing he had hit him , was looking down for him , when all at once he came up behind and cleft him to the waist and sent him straight to hell . The king-lion greatly praised the dashing courage of Prince Almas . They went together into the Castle of Clashing Swords and found it adorned and fitted in princely fashion . In it was a daughter of Taram taq , still a child She sent a message to Prince Almas saying , ' O king of the world ! choose this slave to be your handmaid . Keep her with you ; where you go , there she will go ! ' He sent for her and she kissed his feet and received the Mussulman faith at his hands . He told her he was going a long journey on important business , and that when he came back he would take her and her possessions to his own country , but that for the present she must stay in the castle .
Then he made over the fort and all that was in it to the care of the lion , XXXXX : ` Guard them , brother !
burned cried dashing fleeing saying sent soften succeeded took went