no means so indifferent. It was quite clear
that the little black pig must be dead--but how, and when? To this the
slaves answered that they had seen that morning a man pursued by three
others, and that he had taken refuge in the cavern which they had been
left to guard. Then, in obedience to orders, they had rolled a stone
over the entrance.

Piercing shrieks interrupted their story, and a man, whom the
Circassians saw to be the old dervish, rushed round the corner of the
terrace with the three Jews behind him. When the fugitive beheld so many
people collected together, he turned down another path, but the slaves
captured all four and brought them before their master.

What was the surprise of the Bassa when he beheld in the old dervish the
man who had given the chaplet, the copper plate, and the bracelet to his
three sons. 'Fear nothing, holy father,' he said, 'you are safe with me.
But tell us, how came you here?'

'My lord,' explained the dervish, 'when my beard was cut off during my
sleep by the two Circassians, I was ashamed to appear before the eyes of
men, and fled, bearing with me the pink silk bag. In the night these
three men fell in with me, and we passed some time in conversation, but
at dawn, when it was light enough to see each other's faces, one of them
exclaimed that I was the dervish travelling with the two Circassians who
had stolen the talismans from the Jews. I jumped up and tried to fly to
my cave, but they were too quick for me, and just as we reached your
garden they snatched the bag which contained the little black pig and
flung it into the sea. By this act, which delivers your son, I would
pray you to forgive them for any wrongs they may have done you--nay
more, that you will recompense them for it.'

The Bassa granted the holy man's request, and seeing that the two Jews
had fallen victims to the charms of the Circassian ladies, gave his
consent to their union, which was fixed to take place at the same time
as that of Izaf with the wise Sumi. The Cadi was sent for, and the Jews
exchanged the hats of their race for the turbans of the followers of the
Prophet. Then, after so many misfortunes, the Bassa's three sons
entreated their father to delay their happiness no longer, and the six
marriages were performed by the Cadi at the hour of noon.

[_Cabinet des Fees._]

_THE JACKAL AND THE SPRING_

Once upon a time all the streams and rivers ran so dry that the animals
did not kno