Hindbad, the porter was excited since he was back at the home of Sindbad, the sailor, for another feast and another story. Sindbad, one of the richest men in Baghdad, came by his wealth during his voyages by sheer grit, determination and luck.

The previous day, Sindbad had told Hindbad marvellous stories the adventures during his first voyage. That day, Sindbad was going to describe his second voyage.

For a few years after his first voyage, Sindbad lead a happy and luxurious life. Eventually, he became tired of a sedentary life. Once again craving adventure, Sindbad bought a few goods for trade and along with a few other merchants, he set sail. They went from one island to another and sold or exchanged their goods for a good profit.

One day as they were sailing, they came across an island filled with freshwater and several fruit trees. They disembarked and went for a walk, getting air and picking fresh fruits. Soon, Sindbad fell asleep among the trees. When he got up, to his shock, he realised his companions had left without him.

“Oh, God! Not again,” cried Sindbad in despair. “I could have lived a life of leisure with all my wealth but was I satisfied? No! I wanted an adventure, and I have found one. I now have no idea how I am going to escape this island.”

Sindbad kept walking in search of help when he saw something white at a distance.

Reaching closer, he thought, “I wonder what this is? It looks like a dome – smooth and huge. But there is no entrance to it.”

Suddenly, a giant bird swooped and sat on the egg. “A Roc,” thought Sindbad. “I have only heard of these birds but never seen them. This dome must be its egg. I have listened to sailors talk about these birds carrying even elephants and rhinoceros. This bird is the key to my getting off this island. I am as tiny as an ant compared to the roc. Hopefully, she will not realise me clinging onto her leg.”

So, Sindbad tied himself to one of the Roc’s legs using his turban. The next morning, the Roc flew out of the island. But she was so high that Sindbad could not discern his location. Eventually, the bird dropped to the ground where Sindbad quickly loosened the ties of his turban and freed himself.

“Diamonds!” exclaimed Sindbad loudly looking at the ground upong which they had landed. “Look at their sizes. I wonder where I am, though.”

Sindbad was in a valley surrounded by mountains on all sides when he noticed giant serpents rushing to attack him. He would have gotten killed if not for the Roc which swooped and carried one of those serpents prompting the other snakes to scatter to safety. Sindbad quickly found a cave and hid from the snakes.

Sindbad spent the daytime walking through the valley, for, the serpents never ventured out in the light fearing the Rocs. At nights, however, the snakes roamed freely prompting Sindbad to retreat into his cave. One day, as he was walking, massive pieces of meat fell from the sky.

“Where did the meat come from?” wondered Sindbad.

Then he remembered the stories told to him by his sailor friends. Some merchants knew about the valley filled with diamonds but it was difficult to reach the valley because of the snakes. They threw pieces of meat into the valley, a few of which would get stuck to the pointed edge of the diamonds. Giant eagles living on the island would pick up the meat stuck to the diamonds. When the eagles landed on their nests, the merchants scared them away to collect the diamonds.

Sindbad got an idea. “Let me cling to one of the meat pieces, and hopefully, I will be carried along.”

He then filled a bag with the biggest diamonds he could find and caught hold of a piece of meat. Just as he had assumed, many enormous eagles swooped down to pick up the meat. One of the eagles picked up the meat with Sindbad clinging to it.

After flying sometime, the eagle reached her nest and put the meat down to feed her eaglets. Soon noises could be heard which scared off the eagles. The merchants then came to pick up the diamonds from the meat and which was when they noticed Sindbad.

“Who are you? What are you doing here?” asked one of them.

When Sindbad narrated his story, the merchants invited him to their ship. Sindbad shared a few of his diamonds with his new friends. Eventually, after visiting many places on the way, Sindbad returned to Baghdad even more prosperous than before.

With this Sindbad finished the account of his second voyage to Hindbad.

Addressing Hindbad, Sindbad said, “Did you enjoy the tales of my second voyage, my friend? Come tomorrow to hear about my third voyage. Meanwhile, take these hundred gold coins home to your family.”

Gratefully, Hindbad went home. He could not wait for the next day to arrive so that he can hear more about the subsequent adventures of Sindbad.