ercely, and entering again into the aperture, it
closed, and the wall appeared just as it did before.

"After what I have seen," said the sultan to the vizier, "it will not be
possible for me to be easy; these fish, without doubt, signify something
extraordinary." He sent for the fisherman, and when he came, said to
him: "Fisherman, the fish you have brought us make me very uneasy; where
did you catch them?" "Sir," answered he, "I fished for them in a lake
situated betwixt four hills, beyond the mountain that we see from
hence." "Know'st thou not that lake?" said the sultan to the vizier.
"No," replied the vizier, "I never so much as heard of it, although I
have for sixty years hunted beyond that mountain." The sultan asked the
fisherman how far the lake might be from the palace. The fisherman
answered it was not above three hours' journey; upon this assurance the
sultan commanded all his court to take horse, and the fisherman served
them for a guide. They all ascended the mountain, and at the foot of it
they saw, to their great surprise, a vast plain that nobody had observed
till then, and at last they came to the lake, which they found to be
situated betwixt four hills, as the fisherman had described. The water
was so transparent that they observed all the fish to be like those
which the fisherman had brought to the palace.

The sultan stood upon the bank of the lake, and after beholding the fish
with admiration, demanded of his courtiers if it were possible they had
never seen this lake which was within so short a distance of the town.
They all answered that they had never so much as heard of it.

"Since you all agree that you never heard of it," said the sultan, "and
as I am no less astonished than you are at this novelty, I am resolved
not to return to my palace till I learn how this lake came here, and why
all the fish in it are of four colours." Having spoken thus, he ordered
his court to encamp; and immediately his pavilion and the tents of his
household were planted upon the banks of the lake.

When night came the sultan retired under his pavilion, and spoke to the
grand vizier thus: "Vizier, my mind is uneasy; this lake transported
hither, the black that appeared to us in my closet, and the fish that we
heard speak; all these things so much excite my curiosity that I cannot
resist my impatient desire to have it satisfied. To this end I am
resolved to withdraw alone from the camp, and I order you to keep my