. Tales of fantasy . rincess your bride. That is just the question, sighed the Caliph, as hiswings unconsciously drooped. Who is to say whethershe is young and beautiful, or not ? I call it a com-plete case of buying a pig in a poke ! They talked long and earnestly upon this point,until, as the Caliph saw that, rather than marry theowl, his Vizier preferred to remain a stork, he decidedto do the thing himself. On hearing of his resolve,the owl was overjoyed. She confessed that they couldnot have come at a more seasonable time; in all proba-bility the magicians would reach the castle that verys
. Tales of fantasy . rincess your bride. That is just the question, sighed the Caliph, as hiswings unconsciously drooped. Who is to say whethershe is young and beautiful, or not ? I call it a com-plete case of buying a pig in a poke ! They talked long and earnestly upon this point,until, as the Caliph saw that, rather than marry theowl, his Vizier preferred to remain a stork, he decidedto do the thing himself. On hearing of his resolve,the owl was overjoyed. She confessed that they couldnot have come at a more seasonable time; in all proba-bility the magicians would reach the castle that verysame night. Then she led the way along dark and gloomy corri-dors, until at length a bright light shone upon themthrough thechinks of a halfb ro ken-d ownwall. As theycame up to it,the owl coun-selled them tokeep perfectlystill. A gap inthe wall gavethem a full viewof a large hall, beautifully decorated, with pillars atthe sides, and lit up by the blaze of many-coloredlamps. In its centre stood a round table, on which. 110 Tales of Fantasy were spread many choice viands, as though for a greatfeast. On a long sofa encircling this table eight menwere seated. One of these the Caliph instantly recog-nized as the pedlar of whom he had bought the magicpowder. After awhile this man was asked to relatehis adventures to the company. Among other thingshe told them how he had tricked the Caliph and hisVizier. What word was it, then, that you gave them ?:asked one of the crew. Twas a very hard Latin one — Mutabor ! As the storks, listening breathlessly in their hiding-place, heard this, they were well-nigh crazy with de-light. Downthe corridorthey rushed,back to theentrance ofthe ruins,just as fast astheir long legswould carrythem; the poorowl could scarcelykeep pace with Then the Caliph, addressing her, said in movingaccents: Oh, fair one, who has -saved both my lifeand that of my friend, take me now as thy lord andhusband, in pledge of our eternal gratitude. Withthis he turned towards t
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