THE FLYING CARPET 131

the money needed for the ransom, him will he appoint his
heir to the crown, and to him will he give his only daughter
in marriage, a princess of marvellous beauty. Further, he
shall receive half the kingdom in his own right.”

When the fisherman heard these words he went to the
king and said, “My sovereign and father, command that
twenty-four waggons, each harnessed with twenty-four horses
and provided with leathern bags, be brought into the court-
yard ; I will engage to fill them with gold, and that at once,
before your eyes.” :

Then he left the palace, and standing in the middle of the
large square, recited the words the fish had taught him.

These were followed by rumblings of thunder and flashes
of lightning, and then by a perfect hurricane which sent down
masses and showers of gold. In a few minutes the square
was covered with a layer of gold so thick that, after loading
the twenty-four waggons and filling a large half of the royal
treasure-house, there was enough left to make handsome
presents to all the king’s officers and servants.

Next day the enemy returned to their own country laden
with the heavy ransom they had demanded.

_ The king sent for the fisherman, and inviting him to partake
of hydromel wine and sweetmeats, said, “You have to-day
been the means of saving our capital from a great calamity,
and shall, therefore, receive the reward which you have earned.
My only daughter, a princess of great beauty, shall be your
wife, and I will give you the half of my kingdom for a wedding
present. I also appoint you my heir to the throne. But tell
me, to whom am I indebted? What kingdom or land belongs
to you? How is it that by a mere movement of the hand