ant a beautiful garden in its place. That is the first
thing. Now go, and tell him what I say.'

So the old woman returned and told the head the sultan's first
condition.

'It is well,' he replied; and said no more about it.

For thirty-nine days the head remained in its favourite corner. The old
woman thought that the task set before was beyond his powers, and
that no more would be heard about the sultan's daughter. But on the
thirty-ninth evening after her visit to the palace, the head suddenly
spoke.

'Good mother,' he said, 'you must go to-night to the bridge, and when
you are there cry "Ali! Ali! Ali!" as loud as you can. A negro will
appear before you, and you will tell him that he is to level the hill,
and to make, in its place, the most beautiful garden that ever was
seen.'

'I will go at once,' answered she.

It did not take her long to reach the bridge which led to the city, and
she took up her position on the spot where she had first seen the head,
and called loudly 'Ali! Ali! Ali.' In an instant a negro appeared before
her, of such a huge size that the old woman was half frightened; but his
voice was mild and gentle as he said: 'What is it that you want?'

'Your master bids you level the hill that stands in front of the
sultan's palace and in its place to make the most beautiful garden in
the world.'

'Tell my master he shall be obeyed,' replied Ali; 'it shall be done this
moment.' And the old woman went home and gave Ali's message to the head.

Meanwhile the sultan was in his palace waiting till the fortieth day
should dawn, and wondering that not one spadeful of earth should have
been dug out of the hill.

'If that old woman has been playing me a trick,' thought he, 'I will
hang her! And I will put up a gallows to-morrow on the hill itself.'

But when to-morrow came there was no hill, and when the sultan opened
his eyes he could not imagine why the room was so much lighter than
usual, and what was the reason of the sweet smell of flowers that filled
the air.

'Can there be a fire?' he said to himself; 'the sun never came in at
this window before. I must get up and see.' So he rose and looked out,
and underneath him flowers from every part of the world were blooming,
and creepers of every colour hung in chains from tree to tree.

Then he remembered. 'Certainly that old woman's son is a clever
magician!' cried he; 'I never met anyone as clever as that. What shall I
give him to do next? Let m