Div-e Sepid

Him Rustam came up with at the fifth stage, and having thrown his noose over him, took him prisoner.

Ulod, in order to save his life, not only gave him full information of the place where his sovereign was confined and of the strength of the Div Sefid, but offered to give the hero every aid in the accomplishment of his perilous enterprise.

This offer was accepted, and he proved a most useful auxiliary.

On the sixth day, they saw in the distance the city of Mazandran, near which the Div Sefid resided.

Two chieftains with numerous attendants met them, and one had the audacity to ride up to Rustam and seize him by the belt.

The chief's fury at this insolence was unbounded.

The noise occasioned by this awoke the Divs, whose leader, Bedareng, advanced to seize Rustam.

But the appearance and threats of the latter so overawed him that he consented to purchase his own safety by the instant release of the Persian king and all his followers.