the chamberlain, who in turn told it to
the caliph, so that you would not be very well received were you to go
to the palace. But there are other ways and means of approaching him,
and it is written on the stars that you shall experience his mercy."

"That is really too bad," said Said, mournfully. "I must then serve for
a long time yet as the servant of that scoundrel Kalum-Bek. But there
is one favor, honored fairy, that is in your power to grant me. I have
been educated to the use of arms, and my greatest delight is a
tournament where there are some sharp contests with the lance, bow and
blunt swords. Well, every week just such a tournament takes place in
this city between the young men. But only people of the finest costume,
and besides that only _free_ men will be allowed to enter the lists,
and clerks in the bazar are particularly excluded. Now if you could
arrange that I could have a horse, clothes and weapons every week, and
that my face would not be easily recognizable----"

"That is a wish befitting a noble young man," interrupted the fairy.
"Your mother's father was the bravest man in Syria, and you seem to
have inherited his spirit. Take notice of this house; you shall find
here every week a horse, and two mounted attendants, weapons and
clothes, and a lotion for your face that will completely disguise you.
And now, Said, farewell! Be patient, wise and virtuous. In six months
your whistle will sound, and Zulima's ear will be listening for its
tone."

The youth separated from his strange protectress with expressions of
gratitude and esteem. He fixed the house and street clearly in his
mind, and then went back to the bazar, which he reached just in the
nick of time to save his master from a terrible beating. A great crowd
was gathered before the shop, boys danced about the merchant and jeered
at him, while their elders laughed. He stood just before the shop,
trembling with suppressed rage, and sadly harassed--in one hand a
shawl, in the other a veil. This singular scene was caused by a
circumstance that had occurred during Said's absence. Kalum had taken
the place of his handsome clerk at the door, but no one cared to buy of
the ugly old man. Just then two men came to the bazar wishing to buy
presents for their wives. They had gone up and down the bazar several
times, looking in here and there, and Kalum-Bek, who had observed their
actions for some time, thought he saw his chance, so he called out:
"Here, g