TWILIGHT LAND

Then, when he had learned where it was to be found,
he sent armies and armies of men and built on that island
palaces and houses, and planted there orchards and
gardens, just like the palaces and the orchards and the
gardens about him—only a great deal finer. Then he
sent fleets and fleets of ships, and carried everything
away from the island where he lived to that. other
island—all the men and the women and the children ;
all the flocks and herds and every living thing; all the
fowls and the birds and everything that wore feathers ;
all the gold and the silver and the jewels and the silks
and the satins, and whatever was of any good or of
any use. And when all these things were done, there
were still two days left till the end of the year.

Upon the first of these two days he sent over the
beautiful statue, and had it set up in the very midst of
the splendid new palace he had built.

Upon the second day he went over himself, leaving
behind him nothing but the dead mountain and the rocks
and the empty houses.

So came the end of the twelve months.

So came midnight.

Out went all the lights in the new palace, and every-
thing was as silent as death and as black as ink. The
door opened, and in came the nine men in red, with
torches burning as red as blood. They took Selim the
Fisherman by the arms and led him to the beautiful
statue, and there she was with her eyes open.

“ Are you Selim?” said she.

“Yes, Lam Selim,” said he.

“ And do you wear the iron Ring of Wisdom ?” said she.

“Yes, I do,” said he; and so he did.

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