him not to enter the town by daylight, or it will be his destruction.’  Wait here, therefore, till nightfall, and only approach the city after dark.  Turn to the right along the wall, and stand still when you reach the third tower, where we will await you.  As soon as we see you we will throw you a rope; bind it round your waist, and we will draw you up.  The rest will be easy.”  “But why need you give yourselves all this trouble?” said Saif Zul Yezn.  “Know,” replied she, “that the inhabitants of this city have been informed of your approaching arrival by their books, and are aware that you are about to carry away their book, which they hold in superstitious reverence.  On the first day of each month they repair to the building where it is preserved; and they adore it and seek counsel from it respecting their affairs.  They have also a king whose name is Kamrun.  When they knew that you were coming for the book they constructed a talisman against you.  They have made a copper statue, and fixed a brazen horn in its hand, and have stationed it at the gate of the city.  If you enter, the statue will sound the horn, and it will only do so upon your arrival.  They would then seize you and put you to death.  On this account we desire to baffle their wisdom by drawing you up to the walls of the city at another place.”  “May God reward you a thousandfold,” replied he; “but go now, and announce my arrival to your mother.”  She went away, and he approached the city in the darkness of night, and turned towards the third tower on the right, where he found Alka and Taka.  When they recognised him, they immediately threw him the rope, which he fastened about him.  When he was drawn up, they descended from the wall, and were about to proceed to Alka’s house, when the talisman suddenly acted, and the statue blew the horn loudly.  “Hasten to our house,” cried Alka; and they succeeded in reaching it safely and barred the doors, when the noise increased.  The whole population of the city rose up, and the streets were filled.  “What is this disturbance about?” asked Saif.  “This is all due,” replied Alka, “to the alarm sounded by the statue, because you have entered the town.  There will be a great meeting held to-morrow, where all the wise men will assemble, to attempt to discover the whereabouts of the intruder; but by God’s help, I will guide them wrong, and confuse their counsels.  Go to our neighbour the fisherman,” added she to her daughter, “and see what he has caught.”  She went, and brought news that he had taken a large fish, of the size of a man.  “Take this piece of gold,” said her mother, “and bring us the fish;” and when she did so, she told her to clean it, which was done.  Food was then brought in, and they ate and talked.  The night passed quietly, but on the following morning Alka ordered Saif Zul Yezn to undress, and to hide in the skin of the fish.  She put her mouth to the mouth of the fish, and took a long rope, which she fastened under Saif’s armpits.  She then let him down into