h from the capital, in the mountains near Kazveen,
there lived the Old Man of the Mountains, or as he is generally known,
the King of the Assassins, with his followers. So great was his power
that he had but to say the word and any of his men would throw
themselves from the topmost crags to the valleys beneath and be dashed
to pieces, or at his bidding, they would travel forth to the most
distant parts of the world in order to kill any persons, however great
they might be.

When he heard that the King of Persia was collecting an army to destroy
both him and his tribe, he became very angry, and said to one of his
followers: "Go, rid me of the King of Persia;" and the mart-took bread
and water and a sharp dagger, and went.

Now after his narrow escape from the Old Man of the Desert, Ahmed took
pains every morning to place a drop of water in the crystal cup and
look therein. Nothing appeared until one morning he saw in the bead of
water a vision of the King asleep, and standing by him a robber with an
uplifted dagger, about to strike. Hurrying to the King's presence, he
warned him of the danger, but the King only laughed, for he trusted his
guards.

Nevertheless, Ahmed determined to keep watch. Darkness came, and the
guards slept. The palace was silent. The hours slipped by, and Ahmed,
weary with much waiting was about to retire, when he perceived a dark
shadow creeping into that part of the palace where the King slept.

The figure noiselessly made its way to the very threshold of the King's
room, when Ahmed sprang upon it, at the same time giving the alarm. The
whole palace was aroused and the murdered secured.

When the messenger did not return, the Old Man of the Mountains sent a
second, and then a third, and finally the most daring and skilful of
all his followers; but thanks to Ahmed's crystal cup, all attempts upon
the life of the King failed.

Then the King sent for Ahmed, and said: "Ask for anything in reason,
and it shall be given thee." And though he was trembling in every limb,
Ahmed replied: "Neither wealth nor power does thy slave desire, save
the hand of thy daughter."

"If she loves you, it shall be so," replied the King, and she did love
him; they were married, and Ahmed became the King's Prime Minister.

THE KING'S TREASURE

PERSIAN FAIRY TALES

The King's Treasure

Accurately relating how a marked advance in material and political
prosperity accrued to Abdul Karim, and the part playe