am I simply dreaming?" To assure himself, he filled his cap
with the gold coins and went up into the sunlight. He rubbed his eyes
and examined the coins: they were of pure gold. Greatly delighted
by his discovery, he hastened to his mother, and said, "I have found
the treasure, I have found the treasure!" When the queen saw the gold
glittering in her son's hand, she was very glad. Now both mother and
son hurried down to the cellar. There the prince continued his search
for the hidden treasure, while his mother contemplated in awe the
columns of diamonds she saw in those underground apartments. Now the
prince came to a third chamber, in which he found two more columns
of diamonds like those in the first room; and finally he came to a
fourth apartment, in which he saw a wide curtain of silk hanging on
the wall. Back of this wall was another apartment, but it was securely
locked. On the curtain were embroidered the following words in big
golden letters: "Inside this chamber is another column of diamonds
twice as large and twice as high as those in the other two; none can
unlock this apartment but the wealthiest Negro in the city of Black."

Anxious to have this last column of diamonds, the prince determined
to find the Negro. Disguising himself again as a poor traveller,
he set out for the city of Black. There he found the Negro, who
received him very kindly. In the course of their talk the prince
spoke of his dream, and told how he found the gold coins and the
diamond columns, and finally gave the reason for his coming there
as a poor traveller. Furthermore, the prince mentioned his father's
name. On hearing the prince's story, the Negro knelt down before him,
saying, "My prince, I was the most beloved servant of your father. I
acknowledge you as my master, and am disposed and ready to do anything
for your sake. As to the chamber you spoke of, I have not the power
to unlock it. There is but one man who can unlock it, who knows very
well your dead father, and who was his friend. He knows me, too,
very well. This man is the king of the demons. And to him we will go
together; but before we go, we should eat our dinner." Then the Negro
ordered all kinds of delicious dishes, and the two feasted together.

After they had dined, they set out on their journey to the palace
of the king of the demons. Soon they came to a river. There the
Negro instructed the prince not to say anything if he should see
any extraordinary sights, les