A man of the pilgrims once slept a long sleep and awaking, found no trace of the caravan. So he rose up and walked on, but lost his way and came to a tent, where he saw an old woman standing at the entrance and by her side a dog asleep. He went up to the tent and, saluting the old woman, sought food. The woman replied, “Go to the valley and catch sufficient serpents, that I may broil and give you to eat.” The pilgrim replied, “I dare not catch serpents nor did I ever eat them.”
The old woman said, “I will go with you and catch some; fear not.” So she went with him, followed by the dog, to the valley. Catching a sufficient number of serpents, she proceeded to broil them.
The pilgrim saw nothing for it but to eat, in fear of hunger and exhaustion; so he ate the serpents. Then he asked for water to drink. The old woman answered, “Go to the spring and drink.”
He went to the spring and found the water bitter; yet he drank it because of his thirst. He returned to the old woman and said, “I marvel, O grand lady, at your choice of living in this place.” And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
