TWILIGHT LAND

himself had one time been—driving an ass—just such
an ass as he had one time driven. The fagot-maker
carried something under his arm, and what should it be
but the very casket in which the Genie had once been
imprisoned, and which he—the one-time fagot-maker—
had seen the Genie kick over the tree-tops.

The sight of the casket put a sudden thought into his
mind. He shouted to his attendants, and bade them haste
and bring the fagot-maker to him. Off they ran, and in
a little while came dragging the poor wretch, trembling
and as white as death; for he thought nothing less than
‘that his end had certainly come. As soon as those who
had seized him had loosened their hold, he flung himself
prostrate at the feet of the Emperor Abdallah, and there
lay like one dead.

“Where didst thou get yonder casket?” asked the
emperor.

“Ob, my lord!” croaked the poor fagot-maker, ‘I
found it out yonder in the woods.”

“Give it to me,” said the emperor, “ and my treasurer
shall count thee out a thousand pieces of gold in ex-
change.”

So soon as he had the casket safe in his hands he
hurried away to his privy chamber, and there pressed
the red stone in his ring. ‘In the name of the red
Aldebaran, I command thee to appear!” said he, and in
a moment the Genie stood before him.

“ What are my lord’s commands ?” said he.

‘‘T would have thee enter this casket again,” said the
Emperor Abdallah.

“Enter the casket!” cried the Genie, aghast.

“Enter the casket.”

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