warrior's head, till the whole
of Aulad's company was either slain or scattered. Aulad himself he did
not kill, but throwing his lasso, caught him by the neck, dragged him
from his horse, and bound his hands. "Now," said he, "if you will tell
me the truth, and, without attempting to deceive, will show me where
the White Genius dwells, and will guide me to where King Kaoues is kept
prisoner, then I will make you king of Mazanderan. But if you speak a
word of falsehood you die."

"It is well," said Aulad; "I will do what you desire. I will show
you where the King is imprisoned. It is four hundred miles from this
place; and four hundred miles farther, a difficult and dangerous way,
is the dwelling of the White Genius. It is a cavern so deep that no
man has ever sounded it, and it lies between two mountains. Twelve
thousand Genii watch it during the night, for the White Genius is the
chief and master of all his tribe. You will find him a terrible enemy,
and, for all your strong arms and hands, your keen sword, your lance
and your club, you will scarcely be able to conquer him; and when you
have conquered him, there will still be much to be done. In the city
of the King of Mazanderan there are thousands of warriors, and not
a coward among them; and besides these, there are two hundred
war-elephants. Were you made of iron, could you venture to deal alone
with these sons of Satan?"

Rustem smiled when he heard this, and said, "Come with me, and you
will see what a single man, who puts his trust in God, can do. And now
show me first the way to the King's prison."

Rustem mounted on Raksh, and rode gaily forward, and Aulad ran in
front of him. For a whole day and night he ran, nor ever grew tired,
till they reached the foot of Mount Asprus, where King Kaoues had
fallen into the power of the Genii. About midnight they heard a great
beating of drums, and saw many fires blaze up.

Rustem said to Aulad, "What mean these fires that are blazing up to
right and left of us?"

Aulad answered, "This is the way into Mazanderan. The great Genius
Arzeng must be there."

Then Rustem went to sleep; and when he woke in the morning he took
his lasso and fastened Aulad to the trunk of a tree. Then hanging his
grandfather's club to his saddlebow, he rode on.

His conflict with Arzeng, the chief of the army of the Genii, was
soon finished. As he approached the camp he raised his battle-cry.
His shout was loud enough, one would have said, t