Dschemila, 'he is a powerful
king!'

'She is right,' said an old man. 'Take away the litter, and let her go
on foot if she is afraid.'

'But it is absurd!' exclaimed the rest; 'how can the ogre get hold of
her?'

'I will not go,' said Dschemila again. 'You do not know that monster; I
do.'

And while they were disputing the bridegroom arrived.

'Let her alone. She shall stay in her father's house. After all, I can
live here, and the wedding feast shall be made ready.'

And so they were married at last, and died without having had a single
quarrel.

[Maerchen und Gedichte aus der Stadt Tripolis.]

_JANNI AND THE DRAKEN_

Once there was a man who shunned the world, and lived in the wilderness.
He owned nothing but a flock of sheep, whose milk and wool he sold, and
so procured himself bread to eat; he also carried wooden spoons, and
sold them. He had a wife and one little girl, and after a long time his
wife had another child. The evening it was born the man went to the
nearest village to fetch a nurse, and on the way he met a monk who
begged him for a night's lodging. This the man willingly granted, and
took him home with him. There being no one far nor near to baptize the
child, the man asked the monk to do him this service, and the child was
given the name of Janni.

In the course of time Janni's parents died, and he and his sister were
left alone in the world; soon affairs went badly with them, so they
determined to wander away to seek their fortune. In packing up, the
sister found a knife which the monk had left for his godson, and this
she gave to her brother.

Then they went on their way, taking with them the three sheep which were
all that remained of their flocks. After wandering for three days they
met a man with three dogs who proposed that they should exchange
animals, he taking the sheep, and they the dogs. The brother and sister
were quite pleased at this arrangement, and after the exchange was made
they separated, and went their different ways.

Janni and his sister in course of time came to a great castle, in which
dwelt forty Draken, who, when they heard that Janni had come, fled forty
fathoms underground.

So Janni found the castle deserted, and abode there with his sister, and
every day went out to hunt with the weapons the Draken had left in the
castle.

One day, when he was away hunting, one of the Draken came up to get
provisions, not knowing that there was anyone in the