that you have seen."

When the princess had obtained possession of the three things for which
she had conceived so great a desire, she said again: "Bird, what you
have yet done for me is not sufficient. You have been the cause of the
death of my two brothers, who must be among the black stones I saw as I
ascended the mountain. I wish to take the princes home with me."

The Bird seemed reluctant to satisfy the princess in this point, and
indeed made some difficulty to comply. "Bird," said the princess,
"remember you told me that you were my slave. You are so; and your life
is in my disposal." "That I cannot deny," answered the bird; "but
although what you now ask is more difficult than all the rest, yet I
will do it for you. Cast your eyes around," added he, "and look if you
can see a little pitcher." "I see it already," said the princess. "Take
it then," said he, "and as you descend the mountain, sprinkle a little
of the water that is in it upon every black stone."

The princess took up the pitcher accordingly, carried with her the cage
and Bird, the flagon of Golden Water, and the branch of the Singing
Tree, and as she descended the mountain, threw a little of the water on
every black stone, which was changed immediately into a man; and as she
did not miss one stone, all the horses, both of her brothers and of the
other gentlemen, resumed their natural forms also. She instantly
recognised Bahman and Perviz, as they did her, and ran to embrace her.
She returned their embraces and expressed her amazement. "What do you
here, my dear brothers?" said she, and they told her they had been
asleep. "Yes," replied she, "and if it had not been for me, perhaps you
might have slept till the day of judgment. Do not you remember that you
came to fetch the Talking Bird, the Singing Tree, and the Golden Water,
and did not you see, as you came along, the place covered with black
stones? Look and see if there be any now. The gentlemen and their horses
who surround us, and you yourselves, were these black stones. If you
desire to know how this wonder was performed," continued she, showing
the pitcher, which she set down at the foot of the mountain, "it was
done by virtue of the water which was in this pitcher, with which I
sprinkled every stone. After I had made the Talking Bird (which you see
in this cage) my slave, by his directions I found out the Singing Tree,
a branch of which I have now in my hand; and the Golden Water, with
which