The prince put spurs to his horse and pursued it ; and was soon lost to the sight of his followers . Until the world-lighting sun stood above his head in the zenith he did not take his eyes off the deer ; suddenly it disappeared behind some rising ground , and with all his search he could not find any further trace of it . He was now drenched in sweat , and he breathed with pain ; and his horse 's tongue hung from its mouth with thirst . He dismounted and toiled on , with bridle on arm , praying and casting himself on the mercy of heaven . Then his horse fell and surrendered its life to God . On and on he went across the sandy waste , weeping and with burning breast , till at length a hill rose into sight . He mustered his strength and climbed to the top , and there he found a giant tree whose foot kept firm the wrinkled earth , and whose crest touched the very heaven . Its branches had put forth a glory of leaves , and there were grass and a spring underneath it , and flowers of many colours . Gladdened by this sight , he dragged himself to the water 's edge , drank his fill , and returned thanks for his deliverance from thirst . He looked about him and , to his amazement , saw close by a royal seat . While he was pondering what could have brought this into the merciless desert , a man drew near who was dressed like a faqir , and had bare head and feet , but walked with the free carriage of a person of rank . His face was kind , and wise and thoughtful , and he came on and spoke to the prince . ' O good youth ! how did you come here ? Who are you ? Where do you come from ? ' The prince told everything just as it had happened to him , and then respectfully added : ' I have made known my own circumstances to you , and now I venture to beg you to tell me your own . Who are you ? How did you come to make your dwelling in this wilderness ? ' To this the faqir replied : ' O youth !
it would be best for you to have nothing XXXXX do with me and to know nothing of my fortunes , for my story is fit neither for telling nor for hearing . '
Until above across as by for into like on to