d into the thicket beside the way, where he might be out of
sight, and there pressed the stone in his ring, and at his bidding the
Genie stood before him.

"What are my lord's commands?" said he.

"I would like to have a noble horse to ride upon," said Abdallah--"a
horse such as a king might use."

"To hear is to obey," said the Genie; and, stretching out his hand,
there stood before Abdallah a magnificent Arab horse, with a saddle and
bridle studded with precious stones, and with housings of gold. "Can I
do aught to serve my lord further?" said the Genie.

"Not just now," said Abdallah; "if I have further use for you I will
call you."

The Genie bowed his head and was gone like a flash, and Abdallah mounted
his horse and rode off upon his way. But he had not gone far before
he drew rein suddenly. "How foolish must I look," said he, "to be thus
riding along the high-road upon this noble steed, and I myself clad in
fagot-maker's rags." Thereupon he turned his horse into the thicket, and
again summoned the Genie. "I should like," said he, "to have a suit of
clothes fit for a king to wear."

"My lord shall have that which he desires," said the Genie. He stretched
out his hand, and in an instant there lay across his arm raiment such
as the eyes of man never saw before--stiff with pearls, and blazing with
diamonds and rubies and emeralds and sapphires. The Genie himself aided
Abdallah to dress, and when he looked down he felt, for the time, quite
satisfied.

He rode a little farther. Then suddenly he bethought himself, "What a
silly spectacle shall I cut in the town with no money in my purse and
with such fine clothes upon my back." Once more the Genie was summoned.
"I should like," said the fagot-maker, "to have a box full of money."

The Genie stretched out his hand, and in it was a casket of
mother-of-pearl inlaid with gold and full of money. "Has my lord any
further commands for his servant?" asked he.

"No," answered Abdallah. "Stop--I have, too," he added. "Yes; I would
like to have a young man to carry my money for me."

"He is here," said the Genie. And there stood a beautiful youth clad in
clothes of silver tissue, and holding a milk-white horse by the bridle.

"Stay, Genie," said Abdallah. "Whilst thou art here thou mayest as
well give me enough at once to last me a long time to come. Let me have
eleven more caskets of money like this one, and eleven more slaves to
carry the same."

"They are here,"