cannot see if he has taken anything,” replied she.  “This is the first of the month,” said the King, “come and let us see if it is missing.”  He then went with a large company to the building where the book was kept.  Alka turned away from the King for a moment to say to Saif, “Do not enter with us, for if you enter, the case will open of itself, and the book will fall into your hands.  This would at once betray you, and you would be seized and put to death, and all my labour would have been in vain.”  She then left him, and rejoined the King.  When they reached the building, the doors were opened, and when the King entered, they found the book.  They immediately paid it the customary honours, and protracted this species of worship, while Saif stood at the door, debating with himself whether to enter or not.  At last his impatience overcame him, and he entered, and at the same instant the casket was broken to pieces, and the book fell out.  The King then ordered all to stand up, and the book rolled to Saif Zul Yezn.  Upon this all drew their swords, and rushed upon him.  Saif drew his sword also, and cried “God is great!” as Shaikh Gyat had taught him.  He continued to fight and defend himself, and struggled to reach the door.  The entire town arose in tumult to pursue him, when he stumbled over a dead body, and was seized.  “Let me not see his face,” cried the King, “but throw him into the mine.”  This mine was eighty yards deep, and had not been opened for sixty years.  It was closed by a heavy leaden cover, which they replaced, after they had loaded him with chains, and thrown him in.  Saif sat there in the darkness, greatly troubled, and lamenting his condition to Him who never sleeps.  Suddenly, a side wall of the mine opened, and a figure came forth which approached and called him by his name.  “Who are you?” asked Saif.  “I am a woman named Akissa, and inhabit the mountain where the Nile rises.  We are a nation who hold the faith of Abraham.  A very pious man lives below us in a beautiful palace.  But an evil Jinni named Mukhtatif lived near us also, who loved me, and demanded me in marriage of my father.  He consented from fear, but I was unwilling to marry an evil being who was a worshipper of fire.  ‘How can you promise me in marriage to an infidel?’ said I to my father.  ‘I shall thereby escape his malice myself,’ replied he.  I went out and wept, and complained to the pious man about the affair.  ‘Do you know who will kill him?’ said he to me, and I answered, ‘No.’  ’I will direct you to him who has cut off his hand,’ said he.  ’His name is Saif Zul Yezn, and he is now in the city of King Kamrun, in the mine.’  Thereupon he brought me to you, and I come as you see me, to guide you to my country, that you may kill Mukhtatif, and free the earth from his wickedness.”  She then moved him, and shook him, and all his chains fell off.  She lifted him on her shoulders, and carried him to the palace of the Shaikh, who was named Abbas Salam.  Here