3. The story “King Sindbad and his Falcon” is about
a king named Sindbad,who was very fond of
racing and hunting. He had brought up a falcon
as pet,who never left his side and remained
faithful till her last breath. The king had put a
golden cup tied around her neck to provide her
drink during hunting.
4. The scared gazelle moved towards the king and
suddenly jumped over his head and escaped. The
furious king declared that he would not return until
he caught the gazelle. He set out on his horse. The
falcon rose high up into the air and spotted the
running gazelle. She swooped down on the gazelle
and blinded it with her sharp claws. The king killed
the gazelle with his mace. The king stripped the
gazelle’s skin, put it across his saddle. It was a hot
afternoon and all were thirsty, but there was no sign
of water anywhere.
5. The Genius Falcon
One day,the Falcon informed the King that it was the
perfect time for hunting. The king liked her suggestion
and set out with his hunting troop.He went to a valley
and spread a net. Soon, a gazelle was trapped in the
area covered by the net. The king’s men started
closing in to catch the gazelle. The king warned his
men to not let the gazelle escape.
He even threatened to punish the person who let the
gazelle escape the net with death.
6. The Remorseful regret
Finally, the king came across a tree and saw some kind of
liquid falling through the leaf of the tree. He collected the
liquid and put it before the falcon to drink. But the falcon
overturned the cup. The king once again filled the cup and
placed it in front of the bird. Again, the bird refused to drink
it. Then the tired king put the filled cup in front of his horse.
The falcon did not even let the horse drink it.
7. The king became furious and cut off the falcon’s wings
for neither drinking the water nor letting the horse
drink it. The falcon cried out in pain. The bird then
made the king aware of the poisonous viper lying high
up in the tree. The king then realised that the dripping
liquid was actually poison coming out of the viper.
The king was remorseful for cutting off the wings of
his humble, faithful and beloved falcon.
8. He returned to the camp with the falcon sitting on his
fist. As soon as they reached the camp, the falcon,
unable to bear up any more pain, suddenly gasped
and succumbed to death. The king repented and cried
aloud at the death of his pet falcon,who actually had
saved his life.
9. Glossary:
subordinate – lower in rank or position
valley – a low area between hills
prey – an animal hunted and killed by another for food
maze – a complicated network of paths
thwart – prevent from succeeding
murmur – something that is said quietly
accomplish – achieve or complete successfully
talons – the claws of a bird of prey
wander – walk or move in a casual way
gauntlet – a strong glove with long loose wrists
annoy – make slightly angry
slake – satisfy
viper – a poisonous snake feel regret or sorry a sudden
repent – catching of breath a seat with a raised ridge at the
gasp – front and back, fastened on to the back of a horse
saddle – for riding.
