` On the shore we saw an old man who was busily engaged in drowning some little black pigs , talking to them all the while , as if they could understand him . -LSB- Illustration : The Dervish drowning the Pigs -RSB- ' `` Accursed race , '' said he , `` it is you who have caused all the misfortunes of him to whom I gave the magic bracelet . Perish all of you ! '' ` We drew near from curiosity , and recognised in him the dervish who had sheltered us on our first escape from the caravan . ` When the old man discovered who we were he was beside himself with pleasure , and offered us a refuge in the cave where he lived . We gladly accepted his offer , and to the cave we all went , taking with us the last little pig , which he gave us as a present . ' `` The Bassa of the Sea , '' he added , `` will pay you anything you like to ask for it . '' ` Without asking why it was so precious I took the pig and placed it in my work bag , where it has been ever since . Only yesterday we offered it to the Bassa , who laughed at us , and this so enraged us against the dervish that we cut off his beard when he was asleep , and now he dare not show himself . ' ` Ah , ' exclaimed the page , ` it is not fitting that such beauty should waste itself in making other people miserable . Forget the unhappy past and think only of the future . And accept , I pray you , this watch , to mark the brighter hours in store . ' So saying he laid the watch upon her knee . Then he turned to Tezila . ` And you , fair maiden , permit me to offer you this other watch . True it is only of silver , but it is all I have left to give . And I feel quite sure that you must have somewhere a silver seal , that will be exactly the thing to go with it . ' ` Why , so you have , ' cried Dely ; ` fasten your silver seal to your watch , and I will hang my gold one on to mine . ' The seals were produced , and , as Azemi had guessed , they were the talismans which the two Circassians had taken from Izif and Izouf , mounted in gold and silver . As quick as lightning the watches slid from the hands of Tezila and her sister , and Aurora and Argentine stood before them , each with her talisman on her finger .
At first they seemed rather confused themselves XXXXX the change which had taken place , and the sunlight which they had not seen for so long , but when gradually they understood that their enchantment had come to an end , they could find no words to express their happiness .
On against as at from in of since to with