[5] Southwest from the Sea of Wan lies a high mountain called Kraput-Koch ("Blue Ridge,” from its blue color).  Probably there was a dukedom or kingdom of Kraput-Koch which served as a city of refuge for the wandering Assyrian princes.  Perhaps the legend has preserved in the person of the King of Kraput-Koch the memory of the Armenian prince Skajordi.

“We have neither father nor mother nor anyone beside,” answered the brothers.

And it came to pass that Sanassar became the King’s tschubuktschi[6] and Abamelik his haiwatschi,[7] and they lived at the King’s house a long time.

[6] Pipe-bearer.

[7] The servant who prepares the coffee.

But Sanassar said one day to Abamelik:  “We fatigued ourselves greatly with labor, yet was our house not finished.  To-morrow make the King no coffee, nor will I hand him his pipe.  Let us not appear before him to-morrow.”

When the King awoke, neither of them was near.  He called the lads to him and said:  “I asked you once if you had anyone belonging to you, either father or mother; and you said you had no one.  Why, then, are you so sad?”

And the brothers said:  “Live long, O King!  In truth, we have neither father nor mother.  Even if we hide it from you we cannot hide it from God.  We worked a little on a dwelling, but left the work unfinished and came away.”  And they told the King everything as it was.

The heart of the King was grieved, and he said:  “My children, if such is the case, to-morrow I will give you some court servants.  Go and finish your house.”

Then the King arose and gave them forty servants, skilful workers, and each had a mule and a bridle.

Early in the morning they arose and loaded the beasts with their tools, and the two brothers led them to the dwelling.  They travelled on and at last reached the spring and the threshold of their house.

Now Sanassar said to Abamelik:  “Brother, shall we build the house first or the huts for the servants?  These poor wretches cannot camp out in the sun.”

And they began first to make the huts.  So strong was Abamelik that he built ten huts every day, while the others brought in wood for their building.  In four days they finished forty huts, and then they set about building the house and finished it.  They set up stone pillars in rows—­so powerful were they—­and laid a stone base under them, and the house was made ready.

Abamelik rode to the King of Kraput-Koch and said:  “We are thy children.  We have built our castle:  it is finished, and we come to you and entreat you, ‘Come and give our dwelling a name,’” It pleased the King of Kraput-Koch that Abamelik had done this, and he said:  “I rejoice that you have not forgotten me.”

So the King gave Abamelik his daughter in marriage and made him his close friend.  After the wedding the King and the young pair came together at the palace—­and Uncle Toross[8] was with them—­and they mounted their horses and departed.  Abamelik rode before them to point out the way.  When they were approaching the castle the King suddenly turned his horse as if to ride back again, and said:  “You have given your castle a name and have purposely brought me here to try me.”