s we had before.

Some time afterwards my second brother wished also to sell his business
and travel. My eldest brother and I did all we could to dissuade him,
but it was of no use. He joined a caravan and set out. He came back
at the end of a year in the same state as his elder brother. I took
care of him, and as I had a thousand sequins to spare I gave them to
him, and he re-opened his shop.

One day, my two brothers came to me to propose that we should make a
journey and trade. At first I refused to go. "You travelled," I said,
"and what did you gain?" But they came to me repeatedly, and after
having held out for five years I at last gave way. But when they had
made their preparation, and they began to buy the merchandise we
needed, they found they had spent every piece of the thousand sequins I
had given them. I did not reproach them. I divided my six thousand
sequins with them, giving a thousand to each and keeping one for
myself, and the other three I buried in a corner of my house. We
bought merchandise, loaded a vessel with it, and set forth with a
favorable wind.

After two months' sailing we arrived at a seaport, where we disembarked
and did a great trade. Then we bought the merchandise of the country,
and were just going to sail once more, when I was stopped on the shore
by a beautiful though poorly dressed woman. She came up to me, kissed
my hand, and implored me to marry her, and take her on board. At first
I refused, but she begged so hard and promised to be such a good wife
to me, that at last I consented. I got her some beautiful dresses, and
after having married her, we embarked and set sail. During the voyage,
I discovered so many good qualities in my wife that I began to love her
more and more. But my brothers began to be jealous of my prosperity,
and set to work to plot against my life. One night when we were
sleeping they threw my wife and myself into the sea. My wife, however,
was a fairy, and so she did not let me drown, but transported me to an
island. When the day dawned, she said to me,

"When I saw you on the sea-shore I took a great fancy to you, and
wished to try your good nature, so I presented myself in the disguise
you saw. Now I have rewarded you by saving your life. But I am very
angry with your brothers, and I shall not rest till I have taken their
lives."

I thanked the fairy for all that she had done for me, but I begged her
not to kill my brothers.

I a