THE OLD MAN AND THE TWO BLACK DOGS. 19

done for each of them, but my account only increased her anger.
“T must instantly fly after these ungrateful wretches,” cried
she, “and bring them to a just punishment; I will sink their
vessel, and precipitate them to the bottom of the sea.” “No,
beautiful lady,” replied I; “for Heaven’s sake, moderate your
indignation, and do not execute so dreadful an intention ; re-
member they are still my brothers, and that we are bound to
return good for evil.”

I appeased the fairy by these words; and no sooner had [
pronounced them, than she transported me in an instant from
the island where we were to the top of my own house, which
was terraced, and then disappeared. I descended, opened the
doors, and dug up the three thousand sequins which I had hid-
den. I afterwards repaired to my shop, opened it, and received
the congratulations of the merchants in the neighbourhood on
my arrival. When I returned home, I perceived these two black
dogs, which came towards me with a submissive air. I could
not imagine what this meant, but the fairy, who soon appeared,
satisfied my curiosity. “My dear husband,” said she, “ be not
surprised at seeing these two dogs in your house; they are your
brothers.” My blood ran cold on hearing this, and I inquired
by what power they had been transformed into that state. “It
is 1,” replied the fairy, “who have done it ; at least it is one of
my sisters, to whom I gave the commission, and she has also
sunk their ship ; yuu’ vill lose the merchandise it contained, but
I shall recompense you in some other way ; as to your brothers,
I have condemned them to remain under this form for ten years,
as a punishment for their perfidy.” Then informing me where
I might hear of her, she disappeared.

The ten years are now completed, and | am travelling in
search of her. As I was passing this way, I met this merchant
and the good old man who is leading his hind, and here I staid.
This, O Prince of the Genii, is my history; does it not appear
to you of a most extraordinary nature? “Yes,” replied the
Genius, “I confess it is most wonderful, and therefore 1 remit
the second third of the merchant’s punishment.”

When the second old man had finished his story, the third
began by asking the Genius, as the others had done, if he
would forgive the other third of the merchant’s crime, provided
his history surpassed the other two in the singularity and un-