The young man, pricked to the quick, regained his horse, took provisions, and set out for the place where he should find the young girl.  On the way he met a man.  They journeyed together.  Soon they perceived an ogress with a dead man at her side.

“Place him in the earth,” said the ogress to them; “it is my son; the Sultan hanged him and cut off his foot with a sword.”

They took one of the rings of the dead man and went on their way.  Soon they entered a village and offered the ring to the governor, who asked them for another like it.  They went away from there, returned through the country which they had traversed, and met a pilgrim who had made the tour of the world.  They had visited every place except the sea.  They turned toward the sea.  At the moment of embarking, a whale barred their passage.  They retraced their steps, and met the ogress, took a second ring from the dead man, and departed.  At a place they found sixty corpses.  A singing bird was guarding them.  The travellers stopped and heard the bird say: 

“He who shall speak here shall be changed into a rock and shall die.  Mahomet-ben-Soltan, you shall never wed the young girl.  Ninety-nine cavaliers have already met death on her account.”

Mahomet stayed till morning without saying one word.  Then he departed with his companion for the city where Thithbirth dwelt.  When they arrived they were pressed with hunger.  Mahomet’s companion said to him: 

“Sing that which you heard the bird sing.”  He began to sing.  The young girl, whom they meant to buy, heard him and asked him from whom he had got that song.

“From my head,” he answered.

Mahomet’s companion said:  “We learned it in the fields from a singing bird.”

“Bring me that bird,” she said, “or I’ll have your head cut off.”

Mahomet took a lantern and a cage which he placed upon the branch of the tree where the bird was perching.

“Do you think to catch me?” cried the bird.  The next day it entered the cage and the young man took it away.  When they were in the presence of the young girl the bird said to her: 

“We have come to buy you.”

The father of the young girl said to Mahomet:  “If you find her you may have her.  But if not, I will kill you.  Ninety-nine cavaliers have already met death thus.  You will be the hundredth.”

The bird flew toward the woman.

“Where shall I find you?” it asked her.

She answered:  “You see that door at which I am sitting; it is the usual place of my father.  I shall be hidden underneath.”

The next day Mahomet presented himself before the Sultan:  “Arise,” he said, “your daughter is hidden there.”

The Sultan imposed this new condition:  “My daughter resembles ninety-nine others of her age.  She is the hundredth.  If you recognize her in the group I will give her to you.  But if not, I will kill you.”