m that by having
taken charge of the vessel during the night he had quite earned his
passage-money.

Jussuf parted from him with many thanks. In the city he sold his
costly clothes, which he had bought new in the city of the
snake-worshippers, clothed himself in the mean dress of a dervish,
had his eyebrows scraped off, and set off on foot along the course of
the river. After a tedious wandering of some weeks, he happily reached
the place where, in his former journey, he had observed the river flow
by a city into the sea. He met there many who spoke his language, and
from them he learned that a ship lay in the harbour, which was to sail
the next day to Balsora. He immediately resolved to embark in it, and
return home.

The captain was very ready to take him, and when he asked about the
passage-money, he answered, "What! you want to pay passage-money? What
would my master say if I took anything from a poor devil like you? No,
no, the rich merchant Jussuf of Balsora, who has twenty such ships on
the sea, takes no passage-money from a poor dervish."

"How!" asked Jussuf, "does the merchant Jussuf still live?"

Then the captain laughed heartily, and said, "Indeed he lives. He is
now, certainly, on a distant journey, but his business still prospers.
Look at this proof. This box of diamonds is a treasure than which no
Sultan has any more precious in his treasury, and this has been given
me to-day by one of his servants to convey to Balsora."

Jussuf saw with astonishment the box which he had left behind in his
flight from the hunting-seat. He did not wish to be recognized in his
poor condition, and feared to be taken for an impostor if he claimed
the treasure. But he could not understand how the box could come into
the captain's hands. He therefore turned to him, and said,

"Forgive me, sir, my curiosity, and tell me if you knew Jussuf's
servant who brought the box?"

But the captain answered angrily, "Listen. I have certainly mistaken
you, as I thought you were a dervish; therefore I am displeased that
you speak so disrespectfully of the mighty merchant Jussuf, talking of
him as if he were your equal. When you next pronounce his name, give
him the honour due to him, and forget not the 'lord.' But as you asked
if I knew the servant, know that I had never seen him before; but I
did not doubt, when he gave it me in my lord's name. If he had given
me only the ten thousandth part in worth in his lord's name, there
would