THE FLYING CARPET 149

golden fruit. A guzla that plays of its own accord hangs
on its branches, and is guarded day and night by four
negroes. Now the music from this guzla has the wonderful
power of restoring health to invalids who listen to it, and
happiness to those who are sad. That which is ugly be-
comes beautiful, and charms and enchantments of all kinds
are broken and destroyed for ever.”

The fisherman put on his invisible cap and went into
the garden in search of the negroes. Before going up to
them he addressed the magic words to his golden ring, and
after a short thunderstorm a shower of gold covered the
ground. The negroes, greedy of wealth, threw themselves
upon it, snatching from each other handfuls of the golden
rain. While thus engaged the fisherman unhooked the guzla
from the branches and hurried off into the courtyard with it.
There he unfolded his carpet, and sitting down upon it with
the princess at his side, flew high up into the air. He had
not forgotten to bring with him the cap, the club, and the
ring ; the princess took care of the guzla.

They floated across the blue sky, above the rustling forests
and under the clouds, and in a few days arrived at the palace.
There they descended, but the people still lay wrapped in
the enchanted sleep, from which they seemed to have no
power of awakening.

The silence of the tomb reigned around. Some of the
officers were sitting, others standing, all motionless and rigid,
and each one in the position he occupied when last awake.
The king held a goblet filled with wine, for he had been
giving a toast. The chamberlain had his throat half filled
with a lying tale, which there had been no time to finish.