“Oh!” I exclaimed, sinking into a chair.  “See! see what you’ve done!”

An enormous form was rising from the floor, and presently stood before us making a deep salaam.

“W-who are you?” I stammered.

“The Slave of the Lamp, Master,” said he.

“Good gracious!” I exclaimed, “you don’t mean to say that this is—­”

“Aladdin’s lamp,” burst in Shin Shira.  “I thought somehow that it looked familiar.  I knew Aladdin well, and I’ve often handled this lamp before.”

“Impossible!” I exclaimed, gazing at the big black giant who stood, with his arms folded, in dignified silence before us.

“Nothing is impossible in the East,” said Shin Shira, “as you’ll quickly find out if you remain here long.  And now—­now that you are the possessor of Aladdin’s lamp—­what are you going to do with it?”

“I—­I don’t know,” I stammered.  “I must have time to think.”

“I should have diamonds,” advised Shin Shira:  “they’re so easy to carry and can always be converted into money.  Command him to bring you a bag full of diamonds of all sizes.”

“But, but,” I said hesitatingly, as visions of untold wealth floated before my eyes, “will he really do it?”

“Try him and see,” said Shin Shira.  So I took the lamp in my hand, and rather nervously commanded the Slave to bring me a bag of diamonds.

[Illustration]

The Slave fell to the ground and touched his head to the floor, paying me the deepest mark of respect.

“Alas, Master, that it should be so, but you ask your slave that which is impossible, unless you would have me take from the shops that which is not thine.”

“Not for worlds,” I interrupted.  “But how is it that you cannot get me the diamonds from the mines as you used to do for your former Master Aladdin in the olden days?”

A bitter smile spread over the Slave’s face.

“The age, Master, has greatly changed, and now the mines in Africa, which were known only to us, are being worked by greedy men with noisy machinery, and we may not be seen there under peril of death.  This is the will of the Spirit of the Lamp of whom I am the Slave, and who also calls you Master, though you will never see her.”

“Oh, well then, that’s all knocked on the head,” I said to Shin Shira, who had been listening attentively.  “I’ll dismiss the man now, shall I, and we’ll talk over what’s best to be done?”

Shin Shira nodded, so I told the Slave I had no further use for him at the moment, and he vanished.

I stood looking at my little friend in great bewilderment.

“It is a great power to possess,” I said, regarding the lamp with awe and amazement.  “I hope I shan’t do anything foolish with it.”

“Don’t be silly,” said Shin Shira crossly.  “I only wish I had your chance.  Why, you can do anything with a power like that.  Leave it to me to think over for to-night, and I’ll tell you the best thing to do in the morning.”