nting. She told him that her father had been a
wizard, and that in case, as was very likely, he should wish to leave
his grave and come to work her evil, Baldschi was to take a stone and
be ready to crush in his head, if he showed signs of moving.

'Baldschi, enchanted at being able to do his lady a service, picked up
a stone, and seated himself by the side of the grave wherein lay
Jagdschi.

'Meanwhile the hour arrived in which Firedschi was accustomed to pay
his respects, and, as in the case of the other two, he discovered the
lady overcome with grief. To him she said that a wizard who was an
enemy of her father's had thrown the dead man out of his grave, and
had taken his place. "But," she added, "if you can bring the wizard
into my presence, all his power will go from him; if not, then I am
lost."

'"Ah, lady, what is there that I would not do for you!" cried
Firedschi; and running down to the grave, he seized the astonished
Jagdschi by the waist, and flinging the body over his shoulder, he
hastened with him into the house. At the first moment Baldschi was so
surprised at this turn of affairs, for which the lady had not prepared
him, that he sat still and did nothing. But by-and-by he sprang up and
hurled the stone after the two flying figures, hoping that it might
kill them both. Fortunately it touched neither, and soon all three
were in the presence of the lady. Then Jagdschi, thinking that he had
delivered her from the power of the wizard, slid off the back of
Firedschi, and threw the shroud from him.'

'Tell me, my prince,' said the nightingale, when he had finished his
story, 'which of the three men deserved to win the lady? I myself
should choose Firedschi.'

'No, no,' answered the prince, who understood the wink the bird had
given him; 'it was Baldschi who took the most trouble, and it was
certainly he who deserved the lady.'

But the nightingale would not agree; and they began to quarrel, till a
third voice broke in:

'How can you talk such nonsense?' cried the princess--and as she spoke
a sound of tearing was heard. 'Why, you have never even thought of
Jagdschi, who lay for three hours in the grave, with a stone held over
his head! Of course it was _he_ whom the lady chose for her husband!'

* * * * *

It was not many minutes before the news reached the sultan; but even
now he would not consent to the marriage till his daughter had spoken
a third time. On hearing t