“To-morrow,” said the King.

When he awoke the next day, they mounted horses and followed the way to the gate of the monster’s city.  They looked at it and went away.

“What shall we do?” said the King.

“Let us make a great trap of the size of the entrance to the city, at the southern gate.  At the northern gate we will place a forty-mule load of yellow sulphur.  We will set it on fire, and then escape and see what will happen.”

“Your advice is good,” said the King.

They returned to the city of the Jews, ordered the smiths to make a big trap and commanded the citizens to furnish the sulphur.  When all was ready, they loaded the mules, went to the monster’s city, set the trap at the southern gate, and at the northern they placed the sulphur, which they set on fire, and then fled.  The monster came out by the southern gate.  Half of his body was caught in the trap that the two men had set.  He was cut in two, filling the river with blood.  The King and the Arab entered the city and found a considerable treasure, which they removed in eighty loads to the city of the Jews.  When they had got back to the palace the King said to his companion:  “Be my caliph.  My fortune and thine shall be the same.”

They sat down and had supper.  The prince put in the stew some poison and turned it to the Arab.  The latter observed what he had done and said, “Where did that bird come from?” When the King of the Jews raised his head to look, the Arab turned the dish around, placing the poison side of it in front of the King.  He did not perceive the trick, and died on the spot.  The Arab went to the gate of the city and said to the inhabitants:  “I am your King.  You are in my power.  He who will not accept my religion, I will cut off his head.”  They all embraced Islamism and practised fasting and prayer.

* * * * *

THE LION, THE JACKAL, AND THE MAN

In times past, when the animals spoke, there existed, they say, a laborer who owned a pair of oxen, with which he worked.  It was his custom to start out with them early in the morning, and in the evening he returned with one ox.  The next day he bought another and went to the fallow land, but the lion came and took one ox from him and left him only one.  He was in despair, seeking someone to advise him, when he met the jackal and told him what had taken place between him and the lion.  The jackal demanded: 

“What will you give me if I deliver you from the lion?”

“Whatever you wish I will give it to you.”