ered his men to set out and bring Aladdin to him in chains.

The officers met Aladdin as he was returning from the hunt, and they
immediately seized him, loaded him with chains, and carried him off to
the Sultan. But as he was borne along, the people gathered around him,
for they loved him dearly, and vowed that no harm should befall him.

The Sultan was beside himself with rage when he saw Aladdin, and gave
orders that his head should be cut off at once. But the people had
begun to crowd into the palace, and they were so fierce and
threatening that he dared not do as he wished. He was obliged to order
the chains to be taken off, and Aladdin to be set free.

As soon as Aladdin was allowed to speak he asked why all this was done
to him.

"Wretch!" exclaimed the Sultan, "come hither, and I will show thee."

Then he led Aladdin to the window and showed him the empty space where
his palace had once stood.

"Think not that I care for thy vanished palace," he said. "But where
is the Princess, my daughter?"

So astonished was Aladdin that for some time he could only stand
speechless, staring at the place where his palace ought to have been.

At last he turned to the Sultan.

"Your Majesty," he said, "grant me grace for one month, and if by that
time I have not brought back thy daughter to thee, then put me to
death as I deserve."

So Aladdin was set free, and for three days he went about like a
madman, asking every one he met where his palace was. But no one could
tell him, and all laughed at his misery. Then he went to the river to
drown himself; but as he knelt on the bank and clasped his hands to
say his prayers before throwing himself in, he once more rubbed the
Magic Ring. Instantly the Genie of the Ring stood before him.

"What is thy will, O master?" it asked.

"Bring back my Princess and my palace," cried Aladdin, "and save my
life."

"That I cannot do," said the Slave of the Ring. "Only the Slave of the
Lamp has power to bring back thy palace."

"Then take me to the place where my palace now stands," said Aladdin,
"and put me down beneath the window of the Princess."

And almost before Aladdin had done speaking he found himself in
Africa, beneath the windows of his own palace.

He was so weary that he lay down and fell fast asleep; but before
long, when day dawned, he was awakened by the song of the birds, and
as he looked around his courage returned. He was now sure that all his
misfortunes must h