and the Fairy Oe ge 89 the more grievous, since as fortune had decided in favour of Prince Ali his brother, he was afraid. he might have committed some act of despair. SSIs replied Prince Ahmed, ‘your majesty knows that when I shot my arrow the most extraordinary thing that ever befell anybody happened to me, that in so large and level a plain it should not be possible : to find my arrow. Though thus -vanquished, I lost no time in vain complaints; but to satisfy my perplexed mind, I gave my attendants the slip, and returned back again alone to look for my arrow. I-sought all about the place wheré Prince Houssain’s and Prince Ali’s arrows were found, and where I imagined mine must have fallen; but all my labour was in vain, until after having gone four eases to that part of the plain where it is bounded by rocks, I perceived an arrow. I ran and took it up, and knew it to be the same which I had shot. Far from thinking your majesty had done me any injustice in declaring for my brother . Prince Ali, I interpreted what had happened to me quite otherwise, and never doubted but there was a mystery in it to my advantage ; the discovery of which I ought not to neglect, and which I found out without going further from the spot. But as to this mystery, I beg your majesty to let me remain silent, and that you will be gatished to know from°my own mouth that I am happy and con- tented. This was the only motive which brought me hither; the only favour I ask of your majesty is to give me leave to come often and. pay you my respects, and inquire after your health.’ ‘Son; answered the Sultan of the Indies,