208 w& : The Story of

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on the side of a canal which was deep but not broad, the worm
pierced the pomegranate in an instant, and hid itself. The
pomegranate swelled immediately, and became as big as a gourd,
which, mounting up to the roof of the gallery, rolled there for some
space backwards and forwards, fell down again into the court, and
broke into several pieces.

The wolf, which had in the meanwhile transformed itself into a
cock, fell to picking up the seeds of the pomegranate one after
another, but finding no more, he came towards us with his wings
spread, making a great noise, as if he would ask us whether there
were any more seeds. There was one lying on the brink of the
canal, which the cock perceived as he went back, and ran speedily
thither, but just as he was going to pick it up, the seed rolled into
the river, and turned into a little fish.

The cock jumped into the river and was turned into a pike
that pursued the small: fish ; they continued both under water for
over two hours, and we knew not what had become of them. All
of a sudden we heard terrible cries, which made us tremble, and
a little while after we saw the genie and “princess all in flames.
They threw flashes of fire out of their mouths at each other, till
they came to close quarters; then the two fires increased, with a
‘thick burning smoke, which mounted so high that we had reason
to fear it would set the palace on fire. But we very soon had a
more urgent reason for fear, for the genie, having got loose from
the princess, came to the gallery where we stood, and blew flames
of fire upon us. We should all have perished if the princess, running
to our assistance, had not by her cries forced him to retire, and
defend himself against her; yet, notwithstanding all her exertions,
she could not hinder the sultan’s beard from being burnt, and his’
face spoiled, nor the chief of the chamberlains from being stifled
_ and burnt on the spot. The sultan and I expected nothing but
death, when we heard a cry of ‘Victory, victory !’ and on a sudden