his falcon, he
left the house saying that he would bring back something for dinner.
Wandering over the plain, he noticed a troop of gazelles, and pointed to
his greyhound to give chase. The dog soon brought down a fine fat beast,
and slinging it over his shoulders, the young man turned homewards.
On the way, however, he passed a pond, and as he approached a cloud
of birds flew into the air. Shaking his wrist, the falcon seated on it
darted into the air, and swooped down upon the quarry he had marked,
which fell dead to the ground. The young man picked it up, and put it in
his pouch and then went towards home again.

Near the hut was a small barn in which he kept the produce of the little
patch of corn, which grew close to the garden. Here a rat ran out almost
under his feet, followed by another and another; but quick as thought
the cat was upon them and not one escaped her.

When all the rats were killed, the young man left the barn. He took the
path leading to the door of the hut, but stopped on feeling a hand laid
on his shoulder.

'Young man,' said the ogre (for such was the stranger), 'you have been a
good son, and you deserve the piece of luck which has befallen you this
day. Come with me to that shining lake yonder, and fear nothing.'

Wondering a little at what might be going to happen to him, the youth
did as the ogre bade him, and when they reached the shore of the lake,
the ogre turned and said to him:

'Step into the water and shut your eyes! You will find yourself sinking
slowly to the bottom; but take courage, all will go well. Only bring up
as much silver as you can carry, and we will divide it between us.'

So the young man stepped bravely into the lake, and felt himself
sinking, sinking, till he reached firm ground at last. In front of
him lay four heaps of silver, and in the midst of them a curious white
shining stone, marked over with strange characters, such as he had never
seen before. He picked it up in order to examine it more closely, and as
he held it the stone spoke.

'As long as you hold me, all your wishes will come true,' it said. 'But
hide me in your turban, and then call to the ogre that you are ready to
come up.'

In a few minutes the young man stood again by the shores of the lake.

'Well, where is the silver?' asked the ogre, who was awaiting him.

'Ah, my father, how can I tell you! So bewildered was I, and so dazzled
with the splendours of everything I saw, that I stood lik