ay.

Thereupon the nine blind men on the opposite shore set up a lamentable
wail, crying, "What has happened, O Khoja?"

"One penny less to pay than you expected," said the Khoja.

_Tale_ 35.--The End of the World.

Now Khoja Nasr-ed-Deen Effendi had a lamb which he brought up and
fattened with much care.

[Illustration: THE KHOJA RECOMPENSES HIS FRIENDS.]

Some of his friends were very desirous to get hold of this lamb and make
a feast of it. So they came to the Khoja and begged him earnestly to
give up the lamb for a feast, but the Khoja would not consent.

At last one day came one of them and said, "O Khoja! to-morrow is the
end of the world. What will you do with this lamb on the last day? We
may as well eat it this evening."

"If it be so, let us do as you say," replied the Khoja, for he thought
that the man was in earnest. So they lighted the fire and roasted the
lamb, and had an excellent feast. But the Khoja perceived that they had
played a trick upon him.

By and by his friends went to some little distance to play games
together, but the Khoja would not accompany them, so they left their
upper garments in his charge and departed to their amusements.

When they were gone the Khoja took the clothes and put them on to the
fire where the lamb had been roasted, and burnt them all.

After a while the friends returned and found their robes burnt to ashes.

"O Khoja!" they cried, "who has burnt our clothes? Alas, alas! what
shall we do?"

"Never mind," said the Khoja, "to-morrow the world comes to an end, you
know. You would not have wanted them for long."

_Tale_ 36.--The Dog on the Tomb.

One day the Khoja was wandering among the tombs. As he strolled along he
perceived a dog lying upon a grave-stone.

Indignant at this profanation of a tomb, the Khoja took a stout stick
and made up his mind to chastise the intruder. But the dog, who saw what
was coming, got up and prepared to fly at him.

The Khoja never ran any unnecessary risk. When he perceived that the dog
was about to attack him, and that he would have the worst of it, he
lowered his stick.

"Pray don't disturb yourself," said he; "I give in."

_Tale_ 37.--The Khoja and the Mullas.

Once upon a time the Khoja, riding on his donkey, was proceeding to a
certain place to give public instruction, when he was followed by
several law-students, who walked behind him.

Perceiving this, the Khoja dismounted, and got up again with his face