third man arrived and they offered unto him a share of their food.  During the meal all ate of the loaves in equal portion.  The repast over, their guest threw down eight pieces of money in payment for his share.  Dissension now began.  He who had the five loaves claimed five coins; but the other objected, and insisted that as all had partaken equally of the food that the money should be divided equally; each taking four coins.  They were still disputing when I overtook them, and they begged me to settle the matter.  Now Bright-Wits, I put the question to you.  What would be a proper division of the money, so that each may have justice?”

Sorely puzzled, the prince knit his brows in thought; while Garrofat and Doola grinned broadly at the prospect of his failure.  Their joy was short-lived, however, as, with a smile to Ablano, Bright-Wits announced that both of the strangers were in the wrong.  Then he pointed out the proper distribution of the coins.  Now when the prince had answered Ablano embraced him; saying, “verily am I proud of thee, my son and pupil.  Be of good heart.  Your reward is near.”

Garrofat and Doola, who for the moment were forgotten, now claimed attention.  Ordering Bright-Wits to draw near, the crafty Vizier Garrofat thus addressed him, “Know thou, most wise and fortunate of princes, that I have one other task to put to you.  Now as this one may be the last, I would give much thought to it to the end that it prove the supreme test of the boasted brightness of your wits.  To-night, therefore, I will endeavour to devise such a task that your successful accomplishment of it will prove to all the world that you are in truth wise enough to sit upon the throne of the Great Onalba.”  So saying he dismissed the assembled people, and beckoning Doola, sought the seclusion of his own apartment.

In obedience to the command of Garrofat, Bright-Wits presented himself in the great council hall of the palace at noon of the next day.  His entrance was the signal for a demonstration of joy from the guards who already looked on him as their future leader.  The presence of the Emirs of the eight provinces of the kingdom perplexed him, nor could he understand the meaning of the double row of guards placed near the throne.

When Bright-Wits had made obeisance, Garrofat arose and ordered a slave to remove the rug which lay upon the floor before the throne.  This done, there was revealed a square, slightly sunk into the marble, at one corner of which could be seen the head of a silver serpent set in the stone; while at the opposite corner the tail of the serpent was visible.  But for these two pieces the square was blank.  Doola now entered, followed by a slave who bore a number of pieces of metal which proved to be the missing parts of the serpent’s body.  These were placed beside the square.