WONDERFUL. LAMP. 13

apprehension, and pursued his way, but when they came within
half a league of the city, the detachment surrounded him, and
the officer said, * Prince Aladdin, I am commanded by the sul-
tan to arrest you, and to carry you before him as a criminal.”
‘They then fastened both his arms, and in this manner the
officer obliged Aladdin to follow him on Yoot into the tow:
When the soldiers came near the town, the people secing Alad-
din led thus a culprit, doubted not that his head would be cut
off; but as he was generally beloved, some took sabres and
other kind of arms ; and those who had none, gathered stones,
and followed the detachment ; and in this manner they reached
the palace, Aladdin was carried before the sultan ; who, as
soon as he saw him, ordered that his head should be instantly
cut off, without hearing him, or giving him any opportunity to
explain himself, As i ken off the
chains, he caused Aladdin to kneel down ; then drawing his
sabre, he waited only for the sultan’s signal to separate the
head from the body, At that instant the populace had forced
the guard of soldiers, and were scaling the walls of the palace.
The sultan ordered the executioner to unbind Aladdin ; and
desired the grand yizier to tell the people that Aladdin was
pardoned. When Aladdin found himself at liberty, he turned
towards the sultan, and said to him in an affecting manner,
“I beg your majesty to let me know my crime ?”—* Thy
crime ?” answered the sultan: ‘follow me!” Thesultan then
took him into his closet. When he came to the door, he
said to him. “ You ought to know where your palace stood;
Jook and tell me what has become of it.” —* I heg your majesty,”
said Aladdin, ‘¢ to allow me forty days to make my inquiries.”
—I give you forty days,” said the sultan.

For three days Aladdin rambled about till he was tired. At
the close of the third day he came to a river's side; there, under