TWILIGHT LAND

of thunder; the house shook and rocked, and the dust
flew about in clouds. Then all was still; and when
Aben Hassen the Fool could see through the cloud of
terror that enveloped him he beheld a great, tall, hideous
being as black as ink, and with eyes that shone like coals
of fire.

When the young man saw that terrible creature his
tongue clave to the roof of his mouth, and his knees
smote together with fear, for he thought that his end
had now certainly come.

“Who are you?” he croaked, as soon as he could find
his voice.

“JT am the King of the Demons of the Earth, and my
name is Zadok,” answered the being. “I was once thy
father’s slave, and now I am thine, thou being his son.
When thou speakest I must obey, and whatever thou
commandest me to do that I must do.”

“For instance, what can you do for me?” said the
young man.

“T can do whatsoever you ask me; I can make you
rich.”

“You can make me rich?”

“Yes, I can make you richer than a king.”

“Then make me rich as soon as you can,” said Aben
Hassen the Fool, ‘and that is all that I shall ask of you
now.”

“Tt shall be done,” said the Demon; “spend all that
thou canst spend, and thou shalt always have more. Has
my lord any further commands for his slave? ”

“No,” said the young man, ‘there is nothing more;
you may go now.”

And thereupon the Demon vanished like a flash.

36